Atychiphobia

“Come on in! 

The water’s fine!”

That’s what you say. 

I learned the hard way 

that I can’t trust what you say. 

I don’t know if that water has sharks;

I’ve been bitten too many times before. 

I don’t know if that water has germs;

I’ve gotten sick too many times before. 

And surely I don’t know if that water will pull me under; 

I’ve been drowned too many times before. 

Once by the tide, twice by the people who told me jump in.

But like I said, I can’t trust what you say. 

Why?

Cause I can’t tell the true from the false. 

Life is not a test I can study for. 

I can’t plan for it 

can’t organize it

can’t control it

can’t know what’s going to happen 

can’t go back and change an answer before hitting SUBMIT.

Whether it’s right or wrong 

I don’t really know 

If life is pass or fail, 

I CAN’T fail. 

I’ve tasted failure:

It tastes like death.