Acrobat

Wrote this poem in 1999. The cadence is different - quick...but it works. Enjoy!

Let me tell you of a fact 
Of "oh, look there! The Acrobat"
They jump, glide and fly at will
They turn and spin, they're never still

But on and away, they're the baton that leads
And they're the joyful song
That makes me smile and gasp intake
With laughter, silence - no mistakes

For peril follows any move
That doesn't match the perfect groove
Just watch; the timing, movement, grace
The pressure shows not on their face

Or in their thoughts, not anywhere
Slow down your fears
Hush, hush - there, there.

Let not this show you view called life
Affect you so, or cause you strife
But always keep this thought in mind
"In time that fall will be behind" 

Meander not for worries sake
Child, rush for life! On to the next take
Of one, two, three or however need be
Just don't stop moving, progressing, improving

On to the next leap, roll, feign can't you see
That all of us are Acrobats: We?

From the starting of time
That cannot be thought
Impressed with a spirit
ALL ACROBATS FOUGHT

For a scene in the circus
A roar from the crowd
We lived for the moment
For learning the nows and hows and wow

I wonder, could it be
That all of that cheering...is for me?

And though we fall and trip - a lot
The roar from before, it never stops
But urges me on and off of my seat
With a tuck and a leap, I'm THROUGH that feat.

And there's where we learn
And that's when we feel
The thought from inside
"Now child, don't be still"

Jed Thorpe

Did you make it through the whole poem? I've no idea how it got that long. In any case, the poem reminds me of a few principles that I live by and teach today. 
1. We are priceless. All of us. Not 'special' but 'unique'.
2. We are all the same. We're all 'acrobats'...sometimes we just forget.
3. With every 'fall' we learn and grow. We progress no matter what.
4. We are eternal. Limitless. Priceless.
5. Keep going. So you fell again - it happened. Get up and get moving.