to survive is to sleep, wake and eat

to eat at least twice each day

to sleep for hours on end

to survive is to take no risks

protect the body and mind

survival makes viciousness gentle

it’s all you can do to see another day

but to live

to live is to sing, dance and scream

to eat when you want something good

to sleep when you want to dream

to live is to take risks everyday

from saying hello to a beautiful stranger

to reading a book you’ve never read

living makes humanity graspable

it’s all you can do to leave without regrets

no matter which you choose

the moon will still pull the tides

stars will continue to implode and die

and you, you get a choice

to live or to survive because either way

dawn still rises, slowly, stubbornly