August #4

It Only Needs to Win Once — You Think? 

Courage, you think,

only needs to win once.

After that you can relax,

never fear again,

be always brave and daring,

confident like others —

the everyone else

who, you're always being told,

aren't scared.

But it doesn't work like that.

Courage is needy, wanting 

your full attention,

refusing to be taken for granted.

It wants to own you;

catching you with your pants down,

wants to give you a thrill — the biggest.

Courage is a very

demanding lover.

Or else it's a wilful child

that runs away.

You have to chase after it,

find it, bring it home,

settle it — embrace it

all over again.

Every time.

Too bad if you tire 

of the game.

You think you only need

to win once,

but it's not enough.

Each time is new —

new effort, journey, struggle, 

catch of breath.

But then, it's all that terror

(grin) 

provides the thrill.

— Rosemary Nissen-Wade