There’s an old saying in Korea that says
There are two ways to live life:
Long and thin, or short and thick.

Let me explain:

A man who lives his life long and thin lives
Moderately, without straining himself too far
One direction or another. He is
Sensible; he knows what is or isn’t
Possible, living in the realm of
Reality, and he lives
A remarkably long life.

But for a man who lives short and thick,
Life is one great fit of passion.
His visions send him reeling off the
Edge; he will not rest until some
Cosmic change has occurred, some
Universal malady been cured,
And he dies young.

Everyone says it’s obvious which
Is the better life, but their answers seem
To differ. It all depends, really, on what you
Value most.

If you want to live in comfort and
Die feeling fulfilled, stick to the
Middle road, find the golden mean,
And you shall surely be happy living
Long and thin.

But as for me?

Well, I can’t help but notice that
The candle burned at both ends
Is brilliant to behold,

And that Icarus, fallen or not,
Saw the world as no one did,
As no one ever will.

I wish I could ask that craftsman’s prideful son
Whether those few moments of exhilarating flight —
Soaring higher than most can even dream —
Were worth it:
Worth the dizzying, drowning fall.

But alas, the answer to that must remain unknown.
For there is no way to know
Unless you put on those fragile wings,
Sail into the sun,

And find out.