Rachel Willcox - Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To play your ideas, your dreams before the crowd
is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard
in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
has nothing and is nothing
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply
cannot learn to feel, change, grow, love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave
He has forfeited freedom
Only a person who risks.....is free

Rachel Willcox

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/risk-2/