These lines on my face
tell the stories of lives lived,
raw and unrehearsed.
Countless missteps
have granted me the wisdom
to see them for all they are
—and all they are not.
After all, those flailing leaps
toward the other side
are far richer than wishes,
sealed in boxes,
tucked away on a dusty shelf.
So, I’ll keep my balance
on this tightrope of modernity,
whistling my tune,
hoping for more of the lessons
that only living can teach.
~Eric Vance Walton~