Onlookers Poem by Robert Wylie

A struggle!
From the first
Attempt at the nipple,
Until the final gasp,
And they call it living.
Mystically, a mixture
Of actor and onlooker
With the roles reversed
To suit the given situation.
The actors making the best of their way,
The onlookers as critics of what they
Themselves do in their turn.
If a dervish, to whirl
If a christian, you pray,
If an addict, you choose your poison.
But never will you be allowed
To benefit without guilt.
The onlooker will make sure
That he maintains the difference
Between his security,
And your vulnerability.
A struggle!
From the first attempt at the nipple
Until the final gasp, and it will
Take more than heaven to help you.