Mitigation

Acting like life will last forever
I pass you bye and smile
knowing that it may be
my last chance to catch
your eye and say out loud
how much I really care
Giving in to polls and politics
Or critics who would
tell me how foolish I've become
But some would say that today
is the only thing I really have
Missed chances
unwritten rhymes
And beauties lost
for lack of speaking up
The seeds of regret
I won't forget
When it comes time to tally
memories and manifested dreams
Trees planted and fires fed
Create forests
and embers
that feed the fullness
of life defined by
completion
Pardon my forwardness
and the depth of my stare
but there is something here
written upon my heart
for you to see
And as I wet my lips I think
about surrendering careful words
knowing that
sacrifice brings
safety
and fear guaranteed loss

All rights reserved to James Martin Cox