THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.
Oh! to fear the fear,
how terrible-horrible is that!
And yet, I don't feel anything but courage when I tell you that.
And so I tell you this perhaps with an obtrusive heart and a scared soul,
So, listen mindfully
For it might be what's in your heart,
confined in a cabinet waiting to be set free.
'Through our infancy, we've been told everything.
From what to eat and what to do
To what to feel and what not to.
They fill our minds with THEIR thoughts.
Who to hate, who to love
Who to be nice to, who to avoid.
What to fear and what not to!'
Yes! They have told us what is to be feared and what is not.
It is this fear that I fear.
It is the fear which I am not allowed to be frightened off!
Why? O! tell me why?
It is okay to have a fear of height
But not good to have a fear of fright.
Why? O! tell me why?
It is okay to have a scare of a lion
But to have a terror of a dog?
Oh! My friend, that's a crime for them all!
Why? O! tell me why?
We aren't allowed to fear what we truly fear?
Why being petrified of a lion is a prudent thing,
But to be scared of a dog is considered a hideous feeling.
Why are we not obliged to feel what we want to feel?
Why this world fills its sentiments into us to feel?
Why? O! tell me why?
It is an age-old custom,
To teach the child what an adult knows,
But not for once, did you all think,
That somethings are better not known!
That, it is better and perhaps even amplest,
For a child to learn something for himself.
Maybe, just maybe. If we think about it,
Not teaching children who to love and who to hate,
Letting them decide who is worthy of love.
Perhaps this will give us a doctrine that we never had!
Why? O! tell me why?
Is it you fearful adults?
Or is it people like me?
Who doesn't like change?
Why? O! tell me why?
Are you afraid of letting us perceive our feelings?
Or do you not want to spread the love?
Why do people who have fears not quite prevalent to yours
Get hatred from you and your kind?
Is it not common for people to be different?
Isn't this a free world?
Or this is just a fantasy
Where every creature has a role?
To think of this world like a fantasy,
It can't even be that.
For it has been reduced, abused too much to be a happy place!
People, beautiful people, feel horrid.
Why? O! tell me why?
Do you have to judge others from their taste?
Can't you let them feel THEIR fear?
Oh! and to those,
Who feel scared to declaim.
Let me tell you something.
'This world has been far too altered,
You can sit by in your fear for now.
But realize this one thing,
If you fear something.
Be proud of it.'
Fear is fear.
We all are allowed to feel it,
and those who think that,
to have a fright for certain things is hideous
Are the ones with frightfulness, dear!
They fear of you,
They fear that if you get comfortable with your fears,
Then nothing can hinder you!
Why? O! tell me why?
Do You not feel this fear of the fear?
Or maybe your fear for fear doesn't let you express it.
But these are my assumptions,
Wholly like this poem.
I fear the fear because I am scared to speak of my despair
And perhaps I am just a skittish cat like many,
But I really can't think of any,
Who has indicated that they fear the fear!
So, yes! I fear the fear.
And oh! how blissful I feel,
To have finally let it off my chest and into my writing spree.
But one thing will make me more content,
With that said, I think you know what I mean.
And if you don't,
Then give a read,
You shall find some questions,
Whose answers you shall seek.