Fear

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. H. P. Lovecraft

I fear too many things,

despite of all the good advice

I cannot change myself,

how much I try,

how hard I hope

 

it’s all for nothing,

words are after all just words

if they are without meaning,

if I cannot live by them

 

then I am lesser than I supposed to be,

it makes the colours disappear,

a silencer on the sounds I like to hear,

it is what it is,

just plain and simple fear.

 

© Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere

08/01/2015

Reviews

[Confuser]

Rudi, it is beautiful and of course I love it. I would like for you to look up, actually not a poem, although many people think so: Marianne Williamson, an exerpt from a book, recited in the movie Coach Carter. Your poem reminded me of this, she says, (few lines): Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that we fear the most. Showing vulnerability is Powerful, like your poem; I am still a baby and must shun away any pride and fear. A silencer on the sounds like to hear, it is what is it, just plain and simple fear. Wow. Primal fear you are correct has always been with us in our limbic systems. This is beautiful poetry.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you Dale, I will look it up. Marianne Williamson, okay. Thanks for you kind words and for the review. Always happy to read your words. :) Rudi

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

As we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Have found it, beautiful exerpt from her book 'Return to love'. There was also a translation with in Dutch, so I understand it all.
It talks also of being humble, so that other people should not be insecure in your presence. I do fully agree with that. In the presence of arrogant and all knowing people I feel little and insignificant, so right she is. Thank you for the tip. :) Rudi

[Lenah Mehzabin]

Oh I m sorry that I interfered but I can't help but agree here with your words Confuser and how much it's a shine to Rudi's great and powerful poetry !
''Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that we fear the most. Showing
vulnerability is Powerful, like your poem;''

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, means a great deal to me. :)

[Confuser]

I'm happy you found it, and in Dutch. I wish to read the book; gonna ask my daughter; maybe she has it online or can get it for me; some type of club.....Rudi, I just began reading again, for many years I did not. It is a passion. Anyway......her writing is beautiful as is your poem.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Yes, I think you can find it online somewhere. Today you can find almost any book online.

[Confuser]

I will - she has a membership, so I will suggest it. Thank you. Got to get Hane ready.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Okay, bye, will post a new chapter of 'The Woman in Red'. :) Rudi

[Confuser]

Woe, now I'm confused: I'll look on requests; please put it there. Last time - a trip to Paris.

[Gee]

We've all been there,will go there and probably are there at this very moment,it's how we deal with fear which shapes our enjoyment of life.Darkness,night,always intensifies the silliest things for me.Good job Rudi

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Gee, glad you liked it. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[Gee]

Thank you,you're welcome

[Vishuddha]

It is fear that calls up courage. It is our strongest emotion. It serves the primal instinct of survival. The mind can think of a million things that can go wrong. Words are nothing without belief which comes from the heart. Concentrate only on what needs to be done and courage rises, fear recedes. Less than you are supposed to be? Less than you want to be perhaps. Do you think you are better than all the rest of us? Did you think you could be perfect? Here is the real world. We are all in your shoes. Abhaya.
Great poem.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you very much for passing by and reading my poem. :) Rudi

[Hímayun kuræshýe]

it describes me or maybe i fit in the words ...the fear ! beautifully written ,thanks fr sharing

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Himayun, glad you could find yourself in it. Fear is a universal feeling. :) Rudi

[AprilRN1210]

nothing plain or simple about fear... it is pretty powerful indeed.. I agree with the quote, the strongest of which is that of the unknown.. words are just words without meaning, but to others perception plays a part.. this one is definitely thought-provoking my friend.. nicely done as usual..

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, April, for visiting and reviewing. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[Jennesis]

Oh yes, that pesky fear gets stuck in our brains like gum on the bottom of your shoe. I like the way you talked about it here.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much, Jennesis, for passing by and reading and reviewing. Glad you liked my writings. :) Rudi

[Michael G.]

Fear can freeze a person from doing anything. Fear can enrage some to take action. Fear with the Adrenalin flow can make one almost indestructible. A good poem, sir.

This aside, due to the current events, I wish for you and yours to stay safe, my friend.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you very much for reading and reviewing, Michael. And I hope so too that we may stay safe, but I fear that's wishful thinking. :) Rudi

[Moonlight]

Lovely poem. You have captured the aspect of fear so accurately here. I loved it a lot! Thanks for sharing! :)

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Moonlight. Glad you loved it. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[anne]

I fear too many things,
despite of all the good advice
I cannot change myself,
how much I try,
how hard I hope......
its so beautiful Rudi, it's only our inner vision, self-motivation which can make us come out of it..and definitely patience because fear is like termite, if it stucks it cause harm but medicine at the right time can prevent it.....I remember the line of one movie which says this heart is always so scared so howsoever the big problem is tell it everything is fine....loved it..:))

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

thank you, Anne, glad you loved it. :) Rudi

[MsJewel]

I agree, fear is one of the strongest emotions. It can paralyze you.
You have captured the emotion well in this beautifully written poem.
You have an amazing talent my friend.

:) Julie

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Julie. You are too kind. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[MsJewel]

my pleasure rudi! You have a nice day as well.

[NeiL ArandA]

Some gave a definition of Fear ( False Evidence Appearing Real ) Fear could be good or bad. If its bad then why it seems it's already built into our system unless it was never there in the first place. Fear can range from mild anxiety which many people suffers and from the extreme end of the spectrum which is Phobia. It has so many faces. Steaming from within ourselves. As a small child we fear the dark and being away from the people we are closely attached to such us our parents. They call this Separation Anxiety. Some even stated that they would rather jump in a plane with a parachute for the first time than be summoned to speak in a large crowd. On the other hand from the Christian perspective- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The fact that we are living in this fallen world. Fear is common and a norm. The future is riddled with so much uncertainty. Even the wealthy and the financially secured feared that the economy may collapse and wipe out all their lifelong savings and retirement. If this is not true then just tune in to CNN and watch the news. But there's hope and promise in the Bible that give us confidence not to lose heart. The first word given to the shepherd by the angels in Bethlehem is an exhortation " Fear Not " ... Perfect love cast out fear. And God gave us hope through His Son...

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Okay, Neil. Glad you visited. Waiting for it. :) Rudi