Leap

Lily Pad Orange County, California

 

Have you ever thought
About what it takes
To perform a leap?

As a dancer
I spent many hours
Perfecting this action

This action
That a child
Gives little thought to

Oh look a rock in a stream
Then another rock
I think I can make it to the next one without getting wet

A frog leaps
When it does not swim
An instinctive action
From lily pad to lily pad

But as one gets older
This simple action becomes more work
There is more thought involved
More hesitation

If I leap to that rock
I could twist my ankle when I land
I could fall in the water
I could get bitten by a snake

Sometimes it’s important
To think before you leap
But sometimes our thoughts get in the way
Our risks become fewer

Careful consideration
Sometimes prevents falls
But sometimes those falls
Help us to see where we need to be