COURAGE

GUACARIGUA

Borikén, 1491

My mother says watch out for sharks

in the sea, caimans in the river, hurricanes,

scorpions,

crumbling cliffs …

but my greatest fear

is too little adventure,

not too much.

No matter how fervently my mother worries,

I need to explore, boldly trekking along all

the wild edges

of home.

There will be time enough

for caution

when I grow old.