Afraid

          Fear demands an illusion

        of total control, drawing us

      in upon ourselves,

    ever-tightening the circle

  of wagons until our world

becomes a tiny pen, and

      we completely lose sight

    of our beautiful placement

  in the universe's intricate

and sacred mosaic.

        Terror often rules the night,

      slinking under darkness' cover,

    tearing down what daylight builds,

  provoking panic, squeezing 

security, scattering sleep.

        But let his insanity out

      of the cage at high noon,

    and we'll no longer need

  to dread a coming hell because

we'll already be dying in it.

        When fear is your guide,

      everyone becomes

    a potential enemy,

  safe becomes a place

that ceases to exist,

      the vulnerability

    of knowing and being known

  becomes the luxury

we can no longer afford.

© 2015 Todd Jenkins