Roll the Dice

"if you’re going to try,

go all the way.

otherwise,

don’t even start.

if you’re going to try,

go all the way.

this could mean losing girlfriends,wives, relatives, jobs

and

maybe your mind.

go all the way.

it could mean not eating for 3 or4 days.

it could mean freezing on a park bench.

it could mean jail,

it could mean derision,

mockery,

isolation.

isolation is the gift,

all the others are a test of your endurance,

of how much you really want to do it.

and you’ll do it

despite rejection and the worst odds

and it will be better than anything else you can imagine.

if you’re going to try, go all the way.

there is no other feeling like that.

you will be alone with the godsand the nights will flame with fire.

do it,

do it,

do it.

do it.

all the way

all the way.

you will ride life straight to perfect laughter,

it’s the only good fight there is.”

in, Roll the Dice 

Charles Bukowski