Fear

Fear is the giant squid of the ocean
grabbing sailors from the deck
it is the grasping poison tentacles
wrapping and pulling you overboard
drowning you in the depths of your thoughts
Fear is a gaping void of nothing
but your own cries of despair
Fear is plague in the soul
wiping your actions from the earth
immobilizing you in its fast hold
continually pulling you deeper
more swiftly dropping you downwards
than free fall without your parachute
Fear is the feeling that the ground
will not catch you giving way
beneath your weight swallowing up
every vestige of your humanity
Fear is surrounding, more vicious
than a swarm of kids in a playground
choosing players for their teams
Fear is knowing you will be alone
the last one standing as you fight
to swim in your own streaming fears
and believing that you are going down
sinking with fear makes you afraid to move

© 22 July 2009
Cynthia Ryder
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