Love's Risks

There is a risk involved in everything;
every time you share a smile,
every time you shed a tear,
you are opening yourself up to hurt.

Some people tread slowly through life
avoiding the closeness risk brings,
side-stepping the things they can't understand,
turning away from those who care too much,
those who care too long,
those who hold too tightly.

There is never an easy way to love.
You cannot approach it cautiously.
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.
It does not care if you turn away.
It is everywhere, it is everything.

Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable, it is not cautious.
It is not sympathetic.
It is unprejudiced and unmerciful.
It strikes the strongest of mind
and brings them to their knees in one blow.

Even in the best of times, love hurts.
It hurts to need, it hurts to belong.
It hurts to be the other part of someone else
without either of your consent,
but, from the moment it overtakes you
it hurts worse to be all alone.

The risk of love never depletes.
It grows stronger and more dangerous with time.
But, it's in the total surrender of all defense
that we, no matter weak or strong,
no matter willing or captive,
no matter what, we truly experience love.

Despite the many things love is not,
outweighing it all are the things that love is.
Love is surrender without a loss.
It is a gift without the cost.
It consumes your every thought and desire,
every breath you take.
It is the fire that fuels you
to do more than pass through life;
it urges you, instead, to live.

No matter the outcome, having felt love;
you will never be the same.
It may scar your heart and soul
and leave you only memories of forever.
Or, it may cause every day of your life
to feel like there is no need for tomorrow.
But, love is worth it. It is worth the risk.
For in all of life
Love is truly the only risk worth taking.

© Ruth Bourdon

Used with permission-
Visit her at RUTH  BOURDON