Unless

• Emma Lathbury, Grade 9
• Poetry
• 2013

You cannot walk if you don’t try to stand
You cannot flip if you cannot land

You cannot have a tree without a seed
You cannot follow without someone in the lead

You cannot sing if you do not talk
You cannot grow without some sort of stalk

You cannot have silk without a worm
You cannot excel if you do not learn

You cannot have a butterfly without a cocoon
You cannot have a song without a tune

You cannot finish if you do not start
You cannot love if you don’t have a heart

You cannot have a rainbow without any rain
You cannot have tomorrow without a today

You cannot dream if you don’t fall asleep
You cannot fly if you don’t dare to leap