Things I'll Never Do

a poem

---

Hot air balloon. Sky
dive. Climb frozen
waterfalls. Rugby.
Surf. Snorkle. Run

with the bulls. Keep
bee hives. Ice skate.
Taste puffer fish. Rope
wild horses. Shave

with a straight razor.
Fire walk. Snake charm.
Hitchhike. Work on
an offshore oil rig. Drive

in a demolition derby.
Brew craft beer. Shoot
heroin. Snort cocaine.
Smoke meth. Eat

black licorice. Poach
rhinos, gorillas,
or elephants. Ballroom
dance. Public nudity.

Hike the entire length
of any multi-state 
or multi-national
trail. And I'd like

to say that I won't 
disappoint, dismay,
or dispirit the ones
who love me most

but that's not true.
Through action
and inaction, I'll fail
and fail again,

and so will you.
Maybe all of us are
unbuckled
and terrified

as we wing-walk
on vintage planes
with wisdom shut
and opened eyes.