i want to write

of love

and joy

and soaring, leaping feelings

i want to sing

of fire

and lust

and passion

i want to celebrate

days spent in bed

years spent devoted

moments spent

over the morning paper

as friends

but i cannot

i am afraid

i do not speak this language

i do not dare write these words

i do not risk this hope

i sit in the silence

and my wretched heart

despairs

to risk

to be exposed

i lift my head

as the teacher speaks to me

bringing

courage

to my heart

light

to my eyes

soothing my fears

with faith

to love

he whispers

is to risk

and to risk

is to be exposed

but

to love

is to attempt glory

and to gamble on glory

is to chance grief

grief is not without

having tasted

glory

and glory will not be reached

without the risk

of falling

crashing

taking the leap

for

over

because

to chance

grief

unafraid.

Love elephant and want to go steady?

Sign up for our (curated) daily and weekly newsletters!

 Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photos: Harrinton/Pixoto