A cactus flitted across the television screen
With beautiful flowers
Blossoming from the body
Of the deep green plant.
My daughter looks at me and comments,
“It’s so beautiful”.
“Indeed it is”, I reply
“But sometimes beautiful things are dangerous”
I explain how the spines
On the cactus can prick deep
And cause pain
And bright red blood to flow.
Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
Like a bumble bee with bright yellow
And deep black stripes
With a stinger that can evoke yelps of pain.
Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
Like a cliff with majestic rocks
Carved by the hand of God
That pose such danger to climbers.
Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
Like the vivid orange, yellow, and blue
Flames that dance in a camp fire
That can prove fatal in an uncontrolled setting.
Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
Like love, that can elicit feelings of bliss
And also inflict the deep pains
Of rejection and feelings of inadequacy.
“Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
Sweetheart. The World is full of beauty
But we must be careful with those beautiful things.
Protect your heart, protect your mind, protect your body”
Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous,
But sometimes, beautiful things are worth the risk.