A blissful unawareness

A poem in blank verse

Still life of wilting roses and tulips in a terracotta urn (Dutch School, 18th Century)

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Forgive me, if I could have known the cost
Of trying, I'm not sure I would have tried.
Sometimes it's better not to know, so I
Maintain a blissful unawareness, I
Open my eyes enough to see my feet
But not enough to see the path ahead.
If any of us knew the wages paid
To Time, the great taskmaster, for our way
Who wouldn't shrink in fear from the chasm's edge?
So I maintain a blissful unawareness.
But darling, you should know that if I had
My time again I wouldn't change a thing.
I see enough about myself to know
That giv'n the chance I'll always take it, know
That nothing ventured ever something gained,
And if that something should be everything
Who wouldn't wager anything to try?

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