To risk is to be free
To laugh, is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep, is to risk appearing sentimental.
To give without regard for reward, is to risk misunderstanding.
To reach out to others, is to risk involvement.
To seek justice, is to risk reprisal.
To open your heart, is to risk vulnerability.
To expose feelings, is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your dreams before a 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 hazard in life is to do nothing.
The person who risks nothing,
does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their certitudes, they are a slave,
they forfeited their freedom.
Only the person who risks can be free.

Marie,
This William Ward poem is one of my favorites. I would also like to share with you, another fine poem by Michelle Mckee.
RISK
There are no guarantees
Life throws things at you
You can catch or miss them
But they will come, ready or not
I always looked for the real thing
Never trusting in the possibility
Risk-taking not my forte
Staying safe at all costs
Even playing it safe is not certain
Safe has hurt me
Zero risk gets zero gain
Sometimes playing it safe costs you more
It has me,
In not fighting the battle
you may lose the war
In not believing in a dream
You may never sleep peacefully again
So let go of the fear
Reach out for the flame
So what if you get burned
Better that then numb for life
Better to remember passion and joy
Along with the pain and tears
Then to have no memories worth
Remembering
So to hell with safe
I am going to gamble and bet
Until I win back everything I lost
And my life is what it was meant to be.
🙂
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I actually wasn’t sure who the author of this was, so thanks for letting us know Somnath and for sharing another of your wonderful poems with us too.
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Two beautiful poems. Thank you x
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Marie,
Your post was just what my heart needed to hear…will explain more when time permits, but for now, just wanted to say a great big THANKS!
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Kim, I am so glad that it resonated with you.
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Inspirational!
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Love this…
Better to remember passion and joy
Along with the pain and tears
Then to have no memories worth
Remembering
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