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Balancing Act

Welcome to the circus!
Today’s main performance the balancing act
Walking high above failure, heartbreak, and death

A volunteer?
How ‘bout you?

First you climb the ladder
Your success just ahead
You get a good job, your health is sound
You get a wife, have a child, get your feet on the ground
Life is perfect, you’re at the top now

Then look out at the thin rope ahead
How will you ever reach the end?
As it sways and it taunts you, it cackles with glee
You think your almost done?
No, your journey’s just begun

Now for the real show
The long rope ahead
Across the spider silk thread you’ll walk to the end
Perfect balance is needed
But hard to achieve

Find balance between the tangible
And things too unimaginable to dream
This is they key to the great balancing act
You like certainties, facts
But must suspend your imagination
For if you lean too far you’ll fall
Regain balance, save yourself from decimation

The show must go on!
Life goes forward, not back
We’re all a part of this balancing act
To balance the concrete and the abstract

Don’t lose yourself in love or be absorbed by cool reason
If you’re able to find balance
The thin rope ahead will seem an easier tread

But if the scales tip and your starting to fall
Remember that balance is most important of all
Remember what’s waiting for you below
Find balance in life and continue the show

Rationale

‘Balancing Act’ is free verse poem by Emily Sawchuk. It explores the question of why people only focus on either the tangible or intangible in our culture. The poet uses a different perspective to address this question in the poem. Instead of speaking about why people only focus on the tangible or intangible she chooses to talk about the consequences of only focusing on one or the other. The message of the poem clearly reveals that people need to find a balance between the two to be able to have happiness and peace in life. The whole poem uses a balancing circus act as a metaphor for life. The video that connects to the poem also demonstrates the need for balance. In the video Nik Wallenda says “it took every bit of me to stay focused that entire time”. Even though he is talking about walking on a tightrope over The Grand Canyon in this interview it clearly relates to the human condition. For everybody it takes focus and strength to achieve this perfect balance in life, but in the end it will always be worth it.