Leap of Faith

By John I. Blair

Squirrels do a lot of jumping
Off into vacant space
High above the hard earth,
One branch to another.

I idly wonder
When in their young short lives
They gain the faith it takes
To do that;

To step up to the edge,
The rim of their security,
Take one brief look
To estimate the distance,

Then jump across the gap,
Confident they’ll make the other side.
When did each one learn
To trust in their ability?

I know it’s not a sure thing –
I’ve seen from time to time
A still small body
On a patio or walk

That missed a leap. A harsh reminder
Faith is not a guarantee,
And confidence can lead
To ultimate disaster.

But there are a lot of squirrels
That leap and live; and this
Gives me the heart
To do the same.

©2014 John I. Blair