Fear

A curious word

With layers and layers

Of meaning.

Insidious, it sneaks

Into your world

Before you even know

It’s there.

And when you do realize it?

It grips your heart,

Taking you hostage.

Squeezing your blood vessels and

Causing your heart to gallop,

Making it hard to breathe.

Tears form as the

Panic unfolds

Into mindless

Asymmetry.

You try. You really do.

Just talk yourself through it.

But, try as you might,

The air only becomes thick

With your own words,

Going nowhere.

Fear has taken up residence

With its grimy and gnarled fingers

As fear invades deeper

And deeper

Into the depths of your soul.