Comp and Coop were opposites who found themselves one day,

Facing a dilemma in which neither had a say.

The river that separated them had exhausted itself dry,

And both were forced to neutral ground to bond, or compromise.

Now Neutral was a master in conflict resolution,

And agreed to let them stay if both made restitution.

This was inconceivable for these two antipodes,

For neither would decipher the other’s moral codes.

Isiac Competition was a man of great ambition,

Believing himself most capable when challenged in his position.

He saw an obstacle as an opportunity to take another step,

And defeat a winner’s game, when a fallen man still crept.

In gratitude to the Universe for being an able man,

He challenged his adversaries to devise a better plan.

Fear was not his enemy, for this he boldly faced,

And whipped it into courage just to protect it from disgrace.

If the man was all of this, how could he be a puritan?

Only when Ollie Cooperate came along and shook his hand.

Do not misconceive - Isiac welcomed every guest!

But then Ollie’s beliefs were opposite; he was a collaborative pest.

Ollie had no interest in the game; even agreed to disagree,

Saying they had to meet in middle ground to set each other free.

“How can this be possible?” said Comp with great disdain,

“When I cannot challenge you to play in any game?”

If you agree to disagree on this then perhaps, we should separate

And neither man will ever know what makes the other great.

So, the river that separated them now exhausted itself dry

And the men were forced to neutral ground to bond or compromise.

Now Ollie Cooperate spoke up on this doom’s day;

said “my wish is not to declare myself great in any way

I already know this, it is embedded deep inside

It makes no difference if I lose or even beat your hide”

“My middle name is Union it aligns with Cooperation

Together they merge into a perfect combination.

If you would agree that two separates make a whole,

We could live in harmony by accepting each other’s role.”

Isiac Competition, silenced by his opponent,

finally declared this a truly glorious moment.

For he was faced with another challenge:

the challenge to agree that meeting in middle ground

would indeed set them free.