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.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

some people just live their entire lives on the verge of a scream. They fear other people, they fear decisions they make, they fear themselves---the live life afraid to take a step forward...
this poem reminds me a bit of Robert Francis' poem "Hound"---in the sense of feeling moving forward that "life the hound equivocal/ we don't know whether it will rend us/ or befriend us"

so do we "stand and wait the event"? out of fear? or face up to the event with courage?

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

That's right, jacob, and of course it makes our life almost impossible to live with those fears. But, as I said to Rene, if you see the results of a terroristic attack in broad daylight in the center of Paris by moslim extremists...it's difficult not to fear. I have great respect for the thousands of people who came into the streets hours after the fact to protest and to wave with pamflets: we are not afraid. I've also read an article this morning of a

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

pushed a wrong button, I will go further here. ...

of a politician who said: If we will stop laughing, that they have won. Admirable attitude, but I guess if you have relatives who are dead by such attacks, it's a whole other mather. It will stay a trauma for their whole life. :) Rudi

[Rene Salinas]

This writing is inscripted in time and I think. It would be worth mentioning that. At the same time that impressionism was evolving the more intellectual counterpart was also around expressionism. Undoubtedly a more intellectual approach to entertain the image of nature. Arnold Shoemberg tried dodecaphony as depiction, Edvard Munch tried "The scream" I think he created four right? Not sure. Rudi has equated that the answer of our time is fear not suprsingly since everyday there is a new representation of an aspect of fear. On TV , newspapaper or any other form of media. Creating an obstacle for equanimity. Yet the irony of it all is that the step of recognition mentioned on this writing is also the journey towards passing thorugh as there is no way to conquer fear but it does not need to stop from doing what you must.

Very current theme.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Yes, Rene, I couldn't say it better. Indeed, there are four paintings of Edvard Munch, the picture I joined, is one of them. Have written this as a reaction on the terroristic attack in Paris yesterday. I have meany fears, some I don't know where they coming from, but after seen and heard the newsflashes yesterday and knowing my son is in Vienna for the moment in a neighbourhoud that is not all together safe...I fear...maybe for nothing, but I cannot shut my eyes or ears like the man in the painting...I'm feeling powerlessness against such brutality, bestiality. :) Rudi

[Rene Salinas]

Oh no! Best thoughts for your loved ones Rudi! Those who say: "things need to get really bad before they get better" isn't time then for things to get better?

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Yes, I hope things will go better. but I'm afraid this is only the beginning of it in Europe. :)