But

It’s better to error on the side of caution,

Or so I’ve been told.

Better safe than sorry, they say.

Use common sense, they advise.

You have a good mind, be wise.

That’s what they tell me.

And it’s getting old –

I’m getting old.

I’ve been so safe and so cautious and so careful,

So good and so nice and so kind . . .

Have I even lived?

Do the right thing

The smart thing, they say.

And you’ll find

Yourself

In a good place.

But

Is it what I want?

Is a good place enough

To satisfy

The passion burning,

The questions churning,

The deepness within;

Is a good place enough?

Part of me wants that.

Part of me wants safe and stable and nice and careful.

But

What a funny little word

Keeping us from being content

At the same time

Bringing hope

But

Part of me doesn’t.

I want adventure and answers and danger.

I want to make a difference

To help others

You can’t do that if you’re safe.

I want to live wildly

Passionately, freely

You can’t do that if you’re careful.

So maybe

Maybe I need to focus on what comes after,

And not on the but.