I did not want to look back

and say with regret

that I never walked in the rain

too afraid that the water on my face

would remind me of tears

and I would cry in sorrow

that I never stood in the wind

too fearful that the buffets on my limbs

would feel like punches

and I would collapse from their hit

that I never moved within the fog

too frightened that the murk around me

would become like a nightmare

and I would never emerge

so I have made certain to do these

and more