Finding Fear Itself
by Ryan Steven Reed
We’ve all been found by fear
And feared what we may find
In the calmed waters of our mind,
A promised end to end our time.
So, friend to fear and feint of foe
In bed at dark help lay me low
To sleep and deafen the breath heard blow
Of my death to come, I fear to know
While so Illogical of longevities,
And the levity of those long-lived
These ghosts are mine and mine to know
These creatures crawl close on fatal toe
Through whiskey’s won and full-poured porter
And courage sought from the barkeep’s order
Of gentle gin and blood-red claret
To stay these fears in my heart’s garret.
More comforted here in close pine dark
Than unbound by the bright sun’s light
Panic to race and anxiety to spark
To burn a fine fall day so lost to spite.
Because we’ve all been found by fear
And feared that what we may find
As those faint whispers find my ear
On gust of worry and breeze of fear.
So here this last October’s night
Drink in hand to bolster my might
A July cigarette in a fresh fall fright
Enacting distraction from passionate flight
While the mild midcoast moans
And Crawford creek flows
I have felt fear and this fear I know;
That future end that my future show
Whether fiend or foe or friend
Will fell me dead and bring my end
Let me steal this night this joy before
I am welcomed, finally, over death’s sure door.
