Adventure story

My adventurous spirit
lured by the challenge
of those dark empty eyes
and the possiblities
implied by those vines,
would once have thrilled to the struggle
up or down that cliff,
eager to risk the ancient greed-triggered traps
in hope of finding the treasure within.

In those days,
didn't I look forward
to being frightened?
Didn't I know I would survive?
Of course -- because I knew it would be safe;
could see the larger world
that surrounds this brief adventure.
When did I get so caught up
that I can no longer see
beyond those cleverly painted boundaries?
When --and why -- does the imagined threat turn real?


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