"Nothing ventured, nothing gained,"
But people never speak of
The part that says,
"Nothing ventured, nothing lost,"
Which is much more important;
A sentiment, a shield.

Distant, detached, disengaged;
Accoutrement to cope.
In nature, fugacious.
Human condition, fleeting;
Faith fades like liquor,
Or the last in the carton.

Pen put to pages;
All words have their place.
Time now has come,
To leave and move forward.
One last drag,
Before I go.