This was in Dear Abby a lifetime ago.. I have had it hanging on my bedroom mirror to see it daily:

THE RISK OF LOVE

There is a risk involved in everything.
Every time you shed a tear,
Every time you share a smile,
You are opening yourself up to hurt.
Some people tread slowly through life,
Avoiding the risk closeness brings,
Sidestepping the things
they cannot understand,
Turning away from those who care too much,
those who care to long,
those who hold on too tightly.
There is never an easy way to love.
You cannot approach it cautiously.
It will not wait for you to arm yourself
It does not care if you turn away.
It is everywhere in everything.
Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable, it is not cautious.
It is not sympathetic,
It is not prejudiced and unmerciful.
It strikes the stronger of mind,
And brings them to their knees in one blow.
Even inn the best of times, loves hurts.
It hurts to need, it hurts to belong.
It hurts to be the other part of someone else,
Without either of your consent,
But from the moment it overtakes you,
It hurts worse to be alone.