Nothing Ventured

　　 by Kay Ryan

　　 Nothing exists as a block

　　 and cannot be parceled up.

　　 So if nothing's ventured

　　 it's not just talk；

　　 it's the big wager.

　　 Don't you wonder

　　 how people think

　　 the banks of space

　　 and time don't matter？

　　 How they'll drain

　　 the big tanks down to

　　 slime and salamanders

　　 and want thanks？