— Andrew Reynolds

Tap

Hot.

Too hot.

Energy sapping hot.

I have great thoughts but they can’t get past the headache.
A cool drink helps, but not for long.
The fan blows warm air around my head.
Thoughts do not cool.

Tap.

A diamond cutter studies the raw crystal.
Marks a line.

A tap cleaves it in two.
An irrevocable step.
Choose wrong and the value is lost.
Irretrievable.

Fear.

Fear stays the hammer blow.
Reach for the jeweler’s loupe to study the problem afresh.

Time passes.
Dust settles.
The stone remains uncut, its value unrealized.
It’s beauty hidden by indecision.

The tap.
Steel edge driven by a sharp tap with a hammer.
Only one chance.
Only one choice.
Choose right and the beauty gleams.
Choose wrong and your heart breaks.

Or don’t choose, and let hope stay on a shelf.
Don’t choose and let the beauty remain hidden.
Don’t choose…