The Tightrope Walker

The tightrope walker walks the wire
steady straight precise
and beneath his feet:

Death . Wire . Death

The tightrope walker does not walk for the fame
he does not walk for the fortune
the tightrope walker walks because he is afraid.

For at those great heights he is not alone
Fear settles on shoulder and jostles him
like an unseen demon.

But the tightrope walker walks on
steady straight precise

Until Fear falls from his shoulder like chaff
and he remains alone
clean and pure above the wire.

by TJ Richter

© May 7, 1987 Theodore J. Richter