The Precipice Poem by Jay Loring

I stand upon a precipice
and gaze at the unknown.
As closer to the edge I've come,
my apprehension's grown.

Before me now, in shrouded mist,
I see a great abyss
And know not what it promises
of sorrow or of bliss

Reluctant now, to take that step,
with such unwelcome fear
But step I must. I cannot stay.
There is no standing here.

For time moves on and so must I,
as those who've gone before.
His faithfulness will be my trust,
of this much I am sure.

And why should I not walk this path?
‘Tis naught but foolish pride
To think that I'd be spared this task
- to reach the other side.

For others too, have faced this fear
and some of them prevailed
Some of them have faltered,
and some have even failed.

The task is mine and mine alone.
The risk is mine to take.
But God will help me - not for me,
but for His own name's sake.

A younger me would certainly
have leaped before I looked.
I'm older now, and wiser,
and my body's slightly crooked.

My knees begin to wobble
as I calculate the drop.
It's not the fall that bothers you.
It's just the sudden stop.

But if I fall, I say, 'What then? '
I'll get back up again.
For trying's only failure
when you don't get up again.

It's not as if this life's a game
of losing or of winning.
It's knowing that where one road ends,
another is beginning.

The answer's not in others,
or in some compartment kept.
You'll find you've had it all along
when from the ledge you've stepped.

So, take that step and boldly go
where angels fear to tread.
Just fix your eyes and don't look back
- fear not what lies ahead.