Paths XVII

have you ever teetered on the edge
of a chasm that would surely end it all
on the cusp
on a precipice
the brink of a yawning, welcoming void
the top of the wall that separates
a pinnacle where you barely hesitate
stupid tricks, haphazard moves
against all the laws that preserve
you deserve
to fall
you deserve to be subjected to those laws
and yet you persist, you insist
on mastering the walk
the top of it all
will you survive
if you survive
what are the lessons learned
how many close calls paused you
caused you to take another look
at all of your flaws
did you eventually take note
before the ground beneath you broke
how far did you tempt
freefall
into the maw, the jaws
of eternity
how far did you push it
like a child who doesn't know
how far he can go
am I the only one that remembers
remembers the myriad of chances I took
remember staring into the craw
of a universe indifferent and hungry
remembers the needs that draw us all
on a canvas of chance
remembers the flaws
that hide
within us all