Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool, To weep is to risk appearing the sentimental, To reach out for another is to risk involvement, To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self, To place your idea, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss, To love is to risk not being loved in return, To live is to risk dying, To hope is to risk despair, To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. One may avoid suffering and sorrow, but simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love...live. Chained by certitudes, The individual is a slave And has a forfeited freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free.Ever feel like doing something but instead choose to hold back on it, for fear of not being accepted or having your ideas mocked at? We're all afraid to take risks for one reason or another. I'm no dare-devil myself and someone, who I am indebted to, took the time to guide me, and push me into taking risks, and I dedicate this poem to that person (you know who you are). And to all of you out there who possess wildly imaginative ideas but are simply too shy to share them with the rest of the world, "You have but one life to live...live it to the fullest." Written December 27th, 2001 © on Dec 27 2001 03:07 PM PST   0 • 10