Leap Before You Look



                               but  you will have to leap
                          like,                  The
                     you                             sense
                  if                                             of
           Look                                                  danger
      here;                                                               must
  from                                                                         not
      looks                                                                disappear
            it                                                              The
             gradual                                              way
                   However                                     is
                               steep,                certainly
                                      and        both
                                            short
                               

Tough
 minded
  men
   get
     mushy
     in
      their
       sleep
        And
         break
          the
           by
            laws
             any
               fool
                can
                 keep;
                   It
                    is
                     not
                      the
                       convention
                        but
                         the
                          fear
                           That
                            has
                             a
                              tendency
                               to
                                disappear.

The worried efforts of the busy heap, The dirt, the imprecision,and the beer Produce a few smart wisecracke every year ;Laugh if you can, but you will have to leap.

The clothes that are considered right to wear

Will not be either sensible or cheap,

So long as we consent to live like sheep

And never mention those who disappear.

Much can be said for social savior-faire,
But to rejoice when no one else is there


Is even harder than it is to weep;
No one is watching, but you have to leap.
A solitude ten thousand fathoms deep
Sustains the bed on which we lie, my dear:
Although I love you, you will have to leap;
Our dream of safety has to disappear.
















— W. H. Auden