Precipice

"Death is the Mother of Beauty .... And what is beauty? ... Terror.... Beauty is rarely soft or consolatory.  Quite the contrary.  Genuine beauty is also quite alarming."  

~ The Secret History Donna Tartt

Precipice

We are on the precipice

Of some terrifying depth.  

We never felt brave enough before, 

But now, we are here

Ready. Expectant. About to jump. 

It is why I get so mad

When you don't hear my voice

Or see my soul.

We are almost there, I say.

Why are you now so frightened? 

Don't retreat.

Don't rescue me from falling.

Your fear startles me back to safety,

And now is not a time for guarding ourselves. 

Now is the time - our time - to peer

Over the cliff 

Smile at each other

Clasp hands

And dive.