The risk of living
The risk of living
by Joel Howard
I took a risk
Awakening today
I first rose up
Call it "risk", I may
Waking up
I must convince
Is for sure
Quite the risk
I took a risk
In opening eyes
I took that risk
The risk of life
Looking out
And seeing men
Is quite the risk
I say again
Fear of people
Fear of action
Breeds cowardice,
The strife of the passive
Holding grudges
Unforgiving
Leaves you hopeless,
The fear of living
Man, I know
I've been there weeping
Wishing I had strength
For giving
Wishing I had hope
For living
I took a risk
In helping men
I lifted hands
To strengthen them
Feeling things
That others feel
Is a risk
A risk, for real
Many are the risks when
You and I contemplate a friend
Go to work, minister
Risks a many we find there
Grows the fear,
though, instead
Of sitting back,
skipping when
You remember,
I recall
The missing out
Is worst of all
Feeling as though we would do
What we'd do after thinking it through
In retrospect we all regret,
Wish that we could try again
Ride your bike
and you will see
You cannot go when
Stationary
Fly a kite
It won't fly
If we don't release it
To the sky
Call a friend
Show up, then
You will see
Risk is not the end
Wheels a moving
Kite a flying
Laughter, crying
Living, dying
Are not so bad
If at the least
You DID take
That risk indeed
Did not stay
In final place
May not be first
No not today
But you made friends
Along the way
You grew older
And paved the way
For younger ones
Who up to see
At you looked
To find and seek
"Is it worth it?"
They now ask
They now ask
Look around
You'll see at last
That when you take
A risk in life
Young ones ride bikes
And their kites fly
At watching how
You took a risk
It is worth it
Just for this!
