گل

همان رنگ و همان روي
 همان برگ و همان بار
 همان خنده ي خاموش در او خفته بسي راز 

 همان شرم و همان ناز
همان برگ سپيد به مثل ژاله ي ژاله به مثل اشك نگونسار
 همان جلوه و رخسار
 نه پژمرده شود هيچ
 نه افسرده ، كه افسردگي روي  خورد آب ز پژمردگي دل 

 ولي در پس اين چهره دلي نيست
گرش برگ و بري هست
ز آب و ز گلي نيست
هم از دور ببينش به منظر بنشان و به نظاره بنشينش

 ولي قصه ز اميد هايي كه در او بسته دلت ، هيچ مگويش مبويش

كه او بوي چنين قصه شنيدن نتواند
 مبر دست به سويش كه در دست تو جز كاغذ رنگين ورقي چند ، نماند

مهدی اخوان ثالث

The Dilemma

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk rejection.

To place your dreams before a crowd is to risk ridicule.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrows, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave - he has forfeited his freedom.

Only a person who takes risks is FREE