{
  "id": 13751339,
  "title": "I Thought I Was Good at Something",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/i-thought-i-was-good-at-something",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/10/poem-robert-wood-lynn-i-thought/688936/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I believed I possessed a certain skill, but I found myself consumed by hours of watching intricate billiards trick shots. The precision, grace, and fluidity of these shots were mesmerizing, leaving me entranced for what felt like an eternity. I lost track of time as I marveled at a cue ball gliding past each solid in a line, as though conducting a grand receiving ceremony, before sinking the eight ball. Another shot showcased a spin so powerful that the cue ball circled back on itself just a few inches away to sink a ball directly behind it.\n\nTime seemed to slip away, leaving me disoriented. Meals passed without me remembering having eaten, and any interactions with loved ones were forgotten. My name, once familiar, now required a gentle reminder. However, as the day progressed, a sudden realization struck me like a glowing stick, bright and temporary. My mother's voice over the phone brought me back to reality, discussing the identification of possum tracks in the snow. Was it truly summer? I questioned, and I embarked on a journey through the bustling city.\n\nThe train ride transported me to my workplace, if such a place still existed in my mind. The world seemed overwhelming, an eclipse casting a harsh light on everything in its path. Passengers on the train, engrossed in self-help books, displayed their own struggles and desires through the covers. As I emerged onto the streets, I was surrounded by a city in a frenzy of commuters. We moved in unison, all striving towards our individual goals. Along the way, we would inadvertently fall into manholes at street corners with a distinct clunk, further emphasizing the chaos that surrounded us.",
  "summary": "A poem",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}