you’re walking a tightrope

high up above the earth,

tied between two mountains:

one near home,

the other one, kilometres away.

you’re not scared,

just curious and somewhat befuddled.

when you look down,

you see verdant fields

peppered with wild flowers

on your right.

you also see a shiny rainbow

on a  larimar sky

and children playing,

their cuteness and innocence

on display.

but then you look left

and there’s only black.

fire has burned

what used to be a meadow.

now the ash beckons.

will you jump?

will you listen to

the evil that hides

in the fiendish lava land?

you think about it

for a millisecond,

for a century or more,

but then you continue

on your way.

you’re, after all,

an acrobat.

and if anyone ever asks you,

you’ll tell them

that you were tempted,

but that cowardice whispered

in your ear,

and lent you a comforting hand.