An Open Letter to Fear
A love/hate relationship. Poem 6 of 30 during NaPoWriMo 2020.
Constant companion of any endeavor,
thank you for trying to keep me safe.
A little is good, you keep me from doing harm.
You do what you think is necessary to protect:
my ego, my notions, my heart and body.
However, that is where you stop being fun.
You also keep me awake at night. Over things
that won’t matter in a few months. Making me
think I’ll be trapped forever in a pit of my own making.
You stop me from pushing publish, try to stop me from
getting started because of the phrases:
What if it’s too rough? What if you fail? What if you can’t make it?
Well, I guess I’ll have to take the warning, ignore it, push past you.
I would rather spend my life knowing if something works
than spend years wondering why I didn’t try.
So yes, I understand you will accompany me for life.
We are tied together like a chain and lock.
However, how much I let you call the shots is up to me.
It won’t be much. You are welcome on the journey.
Welcome to sit in the backseat, trying to keep me safe.
However, you are forbidden to drive or navigate.
Keep doing what you do. I’d rather know the risk I’m facing.
Yet, you are no longer the only voice that I’ll be listening to.
