khamush.com Lifestyle | Motivation | Poems
Fear is a universal human emotion that can be both paralyzing and motivating. It’s an emotion that we all experience, whether it’s the fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or fear of love.
Poems about fear offer a unique window into the human psyche and can help us understand this complex emotion in a simple way.
From famous works to contemporary pieces by modern poets, there is a wide range of fear poems to explore fear in all its forms.
Whether you’re looking for short and sweet poems or long, epic pieces, there’s something for everyone.
In this collection, we’ll dive into some of the most beautiful, funny, and thought-provoking poems about fear and explore what they can teach us about this powerful emotion.
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Famous Poems about Fear
Some of the best poets of all time have written about fear, including Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, and Maya Angelou. These famous fear poems offer powerful insights into the nature of fear and its effects on the human mind.
1. Afraid? of Whom am I Afraid?
by Emily Dickinson
Afraid? of whom am I afraid?
Not death; for who is he?
The porter of my father’s lodge
As much abasheth me.
Of life? ‘T were odd I fear a thing
That comprehendeth me
In one or more existences
At Deity’s decree.
Of resurrection? Is the east
Afraid to trust the morn
With her fastidious forehead?
As soon impeach my crown!
2. I Lived on Dread; to Those Who Know
by Emily Dickinson
The stimulus there is
In danger, other impetus
Is numb and vital-less.
As ‘t were a spur upon the soul,
A fear will urge it where
To go without the spectre’s aid
Were challenging despair.
3. Presentiment is That Long Shadow on the Lawn
by Emily Dickinson
Indicative that suns go down;
The notice to the startled grass
That darkness is about to pass.
4. It Is I: Be Not Afraid
by Anonymous
How shall I know Thee, Master, when the night
Falls black about the way,
When earth is void, and heaven has no light,
And wild winds hunt their prey?
How shall I know ’tis Thee, or fiends of hell
In forms that image Thee?
They throng with mockeries, and can I tell
When Thou art come to me?
Yes, by the proof of peace! Oh, Saviour dear,
However sore dismayed,
When once Thy least low whispering I hear,
I shall not be afraid!
5. When I Have Fears
by John Keats
When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain,
Before high-pilèd books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;
When I behold, upon the night’s starred face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
6. Despair
by Jean Blewett
We catch a glimpse of it, gaunt and gray,
When the golden sunbeams are all abroad;
We sober a moment, then softly say:
The world still lies in the hand of God.
We watch it stealthily creeping o’er
The threshold leading to somebody’s soul;
A shadow, we cry, it cannot be more
When faith is one’s portion and Heaven one’s goal.
A ghost that comes stealing its way along,
Affrighting the weak with its gruesome air.
But who that is young and glad and strong
Fears for a moment to meet Despair?
To this heart of ours we have thought so bold
All uninvited it comes one day—
Lo! faith grows wan, and love grows cold,
And the heaven of our dreams lies far away.
7. The Inevitable
by Emily Dickinson
While I was fearing it, it came,
But came with less of fear,
Because that fearing it so long
Had almost made it dear.
There is a fitting a dismay,
A fitting a despair.
‘Tis harder knowing it is due,
Than knowing it is here.
The trying on the utmost,
The morning it is new,
Is terribler than wearing it
A whole existence through.
Funny Poems about Fear
While fear is often associated with serious and weighty emotions, it can also be a source of humor. Interesting poems about fear can help us laugh at our anxieties and gain some perspective on our worries.
1. A Fear Greater Than Death
by Carolyn Devonshire
There is just one thing people fear more than death
Speaking before an audience
Really, more than death?
2. Twas the Night Before Easter
by Tomas Vazquez
He knows if you are sleeping,
He knows when you’re awake,
He knows if you’ve been bad or good.
Zombie Jesus must be staked!
So eat your crackers and wine,
And think that you’ll be saved,
But that’s not why he’s here because
Your brains are what he craves!
He’ll never stop his rampage.
Not until he’s fully fed,
But nothing satisfies his hunger
Like what rattles in your head.
He’s coming down the chimney.
He’s underneath your bed.
You think you can outrun him,
But soon you will be dead.
So you better not whisper,
You better not cry
Cuz even a shot between his eyes
Won’t stop Zombie Jesus, tonight..
3. Let’s Die
by Lochan Chugh
It was a height of 250 metres,
But I wasn’t afraid;
I looked down
And there wasn’t even my shade.
The sun was already jumping
But with a low speed,
I can perform better,
I am not going to give the lead.”
Took a deep breath
And I was in air,
Time stopped,
And silence reached there.
The sun began moving upward,
Or I began moving downward,
I was flying,
But like a dead bird.
When from the ground,
I wasn’t really high;
Mind said,“ change in plan,
Let the sun first die”.
4. Nothing More or Less
by Paloma P
hid insecurities within
ambiguous humor &
convoluted whimsies,
rules consistently changing
in a game which required
hardly more than breath,
nothing less than obscurity
twisting a fallible fancy,
seizing day’s intangibility
5. My Human Folly
by Caycay Jennings
We will all die
So we cry loud
And try for thought.
Wrong lane, wrong way.
Death delay, pray.
Cars stray and honk.
Oh, please, cars – clear.
Turns appear soon,
I steer, we cheer.
6. Gone Spelunking
by Edward Ibeh
I went in not feeling much excitement.
Further into the cave I did venture.
Claustrophobia robs my enjoyment
As I began my scary adventure;
Far from ideal stroll out in nature.
I vowed “I’m done being a thrill seeker!”
As I trailed other spelunkers deeper…
Into the cave afraid it might cave in!
Luckily, I didn’t meet the grim reaper!
Try again? Now that’s a cardinal sin!
7. The Sad Truth About Life
by Theresa
Oh the horror!
For people,
it’s just fun!
8. Rainbow
by A.O. Taner
imagine the rainbow being
the dark tunnel
you’ve been stuck in for years
the lighthouse on the horizon,
the beam
that gets brighter as it nears
get soaked in the rain,
feel the sun in your heart,
let go of all your fears.
9. A Mother’s Discipline
by Mark Goodson
With soap in hand placed in my mouth
Head hangs over toliet tongue heads south
Dirty words no more
Short Poems about Fear
Sometimes the simplest poems can be the most powerful. Short poetries about fear can deliver a lot in just a few lines, capturing the essence of this emotion in a concise and impactful way.
1. Overcome Your Fears
by Catherine Pulsifer
Fear is an unpleasant feeling
It can cause us to panic, sends us reeling
Many fears are created in our own mind
Causing us not to see reality as we are blind.
Fear can stop any progress
It can stop our success.
Fear has no use in our life
It can cause many a strife.
But you can overcome your fears
By talking about them with someone dear.
Someone you look up to and trust
Is a first step that is a must.
They may help you see more clearly
That what you fear is only
A thought in your mind that may
Never happen in any way.
Acknowledge and facing fear is the first step
To send fear down the doorstep.
Relax your mind and your body
Focus your thoughts on the jolly.
Don’t let fear control your mind
When you change your thoughts you will find
That your fear
May suddenly disappear!
2. When We Cannot See Our Way
by Anonymous
When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go.
Cannot fail the way to show.
Though the sea be deep and wide.
Though a passage seem denied;
Fearless let us still proceed.
Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead.
3. The Brook
by Anna K. Thomas
Little rambling, sunny stream,
Round thee plays the bright sunbeam
Racing, chasing — never mind;
Doubt and fear you’ll leave behind.
With thy dimpled smile draw near,
Into crease and crevice peer,
Into secret crannies look,
Laughing, babbling little brook.
Catching rain-drops as they fall,
Pressing through the garden wall,
Flowing, going everywhere —
Busy here and busy there;
Bounding, springing, full of glee,
Ever trending toward the sea,
Bold to enter every nook,
Gurgling, rippling, bubbling brook.
4. Speak Gently
by David Bates
Speak gently; it is better far
To rule by love than fear.
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar
The good we might do here.
Speak gently. Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind,
And gently friendship’s accents flow;
Affection’s voice is kind.
5. Fear and Doubt
by Catherine Pulsifer
When fear and doubt entwine, it’s easy to feel paralyzed.
But look closer, and you’ll find that fear can be refuted.
Build your confidence, you are valuable!
Redirect your energy – your strength is renewable.
Go slowly if it helps and build a path one step at a time;
Nothing is too big when faith in yourself is prime.
Courage and confidence will lead the way, each timid step bringing cheer,
For every challenge that we face, we can show up and persevere!
6. Faithful Promises
Standing at the portal
Of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken through the silence
By our Father’s voice,
Tender, strong, and faithful,
Making us rejoice.
He will never fail us;
He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant
He will never break.
Resting on his promise,
What have we to fear?
God is all-sufficient
For the coming year.
7. Fear Thou Not
by Anonymous
“Fear thou not, for I am with thee”;
Child of God, be this thy stay;
God, the mighty God, is with thee,
Yielding comfort by the way.
“Fear thou not” when want draws nigh thee;
Poorer he has fared than thou:
Can the stores of heaven supply thee?
Plead his promise, precious now.
“Fear thou not” when sickness falleth;
Healing balm will then be given;
Or it may be Jesus calleth,
Calleth his beloved to heaven.
“Fear thou not” when death bereaves thee,
When the loved can love no more;
He is near who never leaves thee;
He can soothe — he wept before!
“Fear thou not” when hopes have faded
And thick sorrow clouds the mind;
Though the light a while is shaded,
Know thy sun is still behind.
8. A Fear
by Catherine Pulsifer
A fear can be a little thing
But over time, trouble it brings.
We can feel paralyzed
If not dealt with and recognized.
A fear can make us feel afraid
Into our life, it will raid
Taking away our happiness
Fear is not something we should dismiss.
A fear can bring anxiety
Impeding our purpose in society.
And the distress we may feel
May be in our mind and not real.
In your life do not let fear control
Push forward toward your goals
When you get beyond your fear
Your feelings will be full of cheer!
9. Out in the Fields With God
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The little cares that fretted me,
I lost them yesterday,
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play;
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees;
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.
The foolish fears of what may happen,
I cast them all away
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay;
Among the rustling of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born –
Out in the fields with God.
Long Poems about Fear
For those who want to know this sentiment more, long poetries about fear offer a more immersive experience. These epic works can take us on a journey through the many facets of fear and its impact on our lives.
1. Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard?
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
2. Touched by an Angel
by Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
3. A Rock, A River, A Tree
by Maya Angelou
Hosts to species long since departed,
Mark the mastodon.
The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spelling words
Armed for slaughter.
The rock cries out today, you may stand on me,
But do not hide your face.
Across the wall of the world,
A river sings a beautiful song,
Come rest here by my side.
Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.
Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.
Yet, today I call you to my riverside,
If you will study war no more.
Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I
And the tree and stone were one.
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow
And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.
The river sings and sings on.
There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing river and the wise rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew,
The African and Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek,
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the teacher.
They hear.
They all hear
The speaking of the tree.
Today, the first and last of every tree
Speaks to humankind.
Come to me, here beside the river.
Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river.
Each of you, descendant of some passed on
Traveller, has been paid for.
You, who gave me my first name,
You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca,
You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me,
Then forced on bloody feet,
Left me to the employment of other seekers–
Desperate for gain, starving for gold.
You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot.
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru,
Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.
Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am the tree planted by the river,
Which will not be moved.
I, the rock, I the river, I the tree
I am yours–your passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need.
Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
4. I Carry Your Heart With Me
by Edward Estlin
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
5. The Dance of Death
by Charles Baudelaire
CARRYING bouquet, and handkerchief, and gloves,
Proud of her height as when she lived, she moves
With all the careless and high-stepping grace,
And the extravagant courtesan’s thin face.
Was slimmer waist e’er in a ball-room wooed?
Her floating robe, in royal amplitude,
Falls in deep folds around a dry foot, shod
With a bright flower-like shoe that gems the sod.
The swarms that hum about her collar-bones
As the lascivious streams caress the stones,
Conceal from every scornful jest that flies,
Her gloomy beauty; and her fathomless eyes
Are made of shade and void; with flowery sprays
Her skull is wreathed artistically, and sways,
Feeble and weak, on her frail vertebrae.
O charm of nothing decked in folly! they
Who laugh and name you a Caricature,
They see not, they whom flesh and blood allure,
The nameless grace of every bleached, bare bone,
That is most dear to me, tall skeleton!
Come you to trouble with your potent sneer
The feast of Life! or are you driven here,
To Pleasure’s Sabbath, by dead lusts that stir
And goad your moving corpse on with a spur?
Or do you hope, when sing the violins,
And the pale candle-flame lights up our sins,
To drive some mocking nightmare far apart,
And cool the flame hell lighted in your heart?
Fathomless well of fault and foolishness!
Eternal alembic of antique distress!
Still o’er the curved, white trellis of your sides
The sateless, wandering serpent curls and glides.
And truth to tell, I fear lest you should find,
Among us here, no lover to your mind;
Which of these hearts beat for the smile you gave?
The charms of horror please none but the brave.
Your eyes’ black gulf, where awful broodings stir,
Brings giddiness; the prudent reveller
Sees, while a horror grips him from beneath,
The eternal smile of thirty-two white teeth.
For he who has not folded in his arms
A skeleton, nor fed on graveyard charms,
Recks not of furbelow, or paint, or scent,
When Horror comes the way that Beauty went.
O irresistible, with fleshless face,
Say to these dancers in their dazzled race:
“Proud lovers with the paint above your bones,
Ye shall taste death, musk scented skeletons!
Withered Antinous, dandies with plump faces,
Ye varnished cadavers, and grey Lovelaces,
Ye go to lands unknown and void of breath,
Drawn by the rumour of the Dance of Death.
From Seine’s cold quays to Ganges’ burning stream,
The mortal troupes dance onward in a dream;
They do not see, within the opened sky,
The Angel’s sinister trumpet raised on high.
In every clime and under every sun,
Death laughs at ye, mad mortals, as ye run;
And oft perfumes herself with myrrh, like ye
And mingles with your madness, irony!”
6. A Birthday
by Aleister Crowley
Full moon to-night; and six and twenty years
Since my full moon first broke from angel spheres!
A year of infinite love unwearying —
No circling seasons, but perennial spring!
A year of triumph trampling through defeat,
The first made holy and the last made sweet
By this same love; a year of wealth and woe,
Joy, poverty, health, sickness — all one glow
In the pure light that filled our firmament
Of supreme silence and unbarred extent,
Wherein one sacrament was ours, one Lord,
One resurrection, one recurrent chord,
One incarnation, one descending dove,
All these being one, and that one being Love!
You sent your spirit into tunes; my soul
Yearned in a thousand melodies to enscroll
Its happiness: I left no flower unplucked
That might have graced your garland.
I induct
Tragedy, comedy, farce, fable, song,
Each longing a little, each a little long,
But each aspiring only to express
Your excellence and my unworthiness —
Nay! but my worthiness, since I was sense
And spirit too of that same excellence.
So thus we solved the earth’s revolving riddle:
I could write verse, and you could play the fiddle,
While, as for love, the sun went through the signs,
And not a star but told him how love twines
A wreath for every decanate, degree,
Minute and second, linked eternally
In chains of flowers that never fading are,
Each one as sempiternal as a star.
Let me go back to your last birthday.
Then
I was already your one man of men
Appointed to complete you, and fulfil
From everlasting the eternal will.
We lay within the flood of crimson light
In my own balcony that August night,
And conjuring the aright and the averse
Created yet another universe.
We worked together; dance and rite and spell
Arousing heaven and constraining hell.
We lived together; every hour of rest
Was honied from your tiger-lily breast.
We — oh what lingering doubt or fear betrayed
My life to fate! — we parted.
Was I afraid?
I was afraid, afraid to live my love,
Afraid you played the serpent, I the dove,
Afraid of what I know not.
I am glad
Of all the shame and wretchedness I had,
Since those six weeks have taught me not to doubt you,
And also that I cannot live without you.
Then I came back to you; black treasons rear
Their heads, blind hates, deaf agonies of fear,
Cruelty, cowardice, falsehood, broken pledges,
The temple soiled with senseless sacrileges,
Sickness and poverty, a thousand evils,
Concerted malice of a million devils; —
You never swerved; your high-pooped galleon
Went marvelously, majestically on
Full-sailed, while every other braver bark
Drove on the rocks, or foundered in the dark.
Then Easter, and the days of all delight!
God’s sun lit noontide and his moon midnight,
While above all, true centre of our world,
True source of light, our great love passion-pearled
Gave all its life and splendour to the sea
Above whose tides stood our stability.
Then sudden and fierce, no monitory moan,
Smote the mad mischief of the great cyclone.
How far below us all its fury rolled!
How vainly sulphur tries to tarnish gold!
We lived together: all its malice meant
Nothing but freedom of a continent!
It was the forest and the river that knew
The fact that one and one do not make two.
We worked, we walked, we slept, we were at ease,
We cried, we quarrelled; all the rocks and trees
For twenty miles could tell how lovers played,
And we could count a kiss for every glade.
Worry, starvation, illness and distress?
Each moment was a mine of happiness.
Then we grew tired of being country mice,
Came up to Paris, lived our sacrifice
There, giving holy berries to the moon,
July’s thanksgiving for the joys of June.
And you are gone away — and how shall I
Make August sing the raptures of July?
And you are gone away — what evil star
Makes you so competent and popular?
How have I raised this harpy-hag of Hell’s
Malice — that you are wanted somewhere else?
I wish you were like me a man forbid,
Banned, outcast, nice society well rid
Of the pair of us — then who would interfere
With us? — my darling, you would now be here!
But no! we must fight on, win through, succeed,
Earn the grudged praise that never comes to meed,
Lash dogs to kennel, trample snakes, put bit
In the mule-mouths that have such need of it,
Until the world there’s so much to forgive in
Becomes a little possible to live in.
God alone knows if battle or surrender
Be the true courage; either has its splendor.
But since we chose the first, God aid the right,
And damn me if I fail you in the fight!
God join again the ways that lie apart,
And bless the love of loyal heart to heart!
God keep us every hour in every thought,
And bring the vessel of our love to port!
These are my birthday wishes.
Dawn’s at hand,
And you’re an exile in a lonely land.
But what were magic if it could not give
My thought enough vitality to live?
Do not then dream this night has been a loss!
All night I have hung, a god, upon the cross;
All night I have offered incense at the shrine;
All night you have been unutterably mine,
Miner in the memory of the first wild hour
When my rough grasp tore the unwilling flower
From your closed garden, mine in every mood,
In every tense, in every attitude,
In every possibility, still mine
While the sun’s pomp and pageant, sign to sign,
Stately proceeded, mine not only so
In the glamour of memory and austral glow
Of ardour, but by image of my brow
Stronger than sense, you are even here and now
Miner, utterly mine, my sister and my wife,
Mother of my children, mistress of my life!
O wild swan winging through the morning mist!
The thousand thousand kisses that we kissed,
The infinite device our love devised
If by some chance its truth might be surprised,
Are these all past? Are these to come? Believe me,
There is no parting; they can never leave me.
I have built you up into my heart and brain
So fast that we can never part again.
Why should I sing you these fantastic psalms
When all the time I have you in my arms?
Why? ’tis the murmur of our love that swells
Earth’s dithyrambs and ocean’s oracles.
But this is dawn; my soul shall make its nest
Where your sighs swing from rapture into rest
Love’s thurible, your tiger-lily breast.
7. Life
by Henry Van Dyke
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
Poems about Fear That Rhyme
Rhyming poems of fear can be both catchy and memorable. These works can help us remember the lessons we learn from our fears and offer a sense of comfort in difficult times.
1. Something More
by Anonymous
Blood running cold in my vain
Lost in the amber waves of grain
Feeling so awkward walking without you
Thought at least one heart might beat true.
Day turning into night.
Going on just doesn’t feel right.
Saw the light Just as it started to fade,
Into unknown tides I wade.
2. Lost to a Dream
by William Harris
Now it is time to wake up, it would seem.
Can’t stop running cause I’m hoping to find
Something that was meant to be left behind.
In order to find my tomorrow Caring a heart I had to borrow.
Struggling just to find a way.
Gets harder each every day.
Would you be heading my way.
Past the stars,
Locked within invisible bars
beyond the dream state,
Beyond my very own fate,
Lies darkness only time can see past.
Yet in a heart beat time is gone so fast.
Can I someday hope for something more,
Than swinging door
Sitting there on the floor.
So many thoughts come and go.
Still you never show
Pain
rain
Standing alone in a world gone cold.
Watching the end start to unfold.
So many sights left to see.
The dreams yet to be .
Where do we go from here,
Is it to live in a world gripped in fear
Who will hold me dear.
As we slip into this void of hearts gone black.
Time is on the attack.
Beyond going back.
3. Dead Wait
by Lori King-Roberts
You brave enough child
You brave enough man
Just because you will it
Just because you can
To pierce the everchanging rock
To crack the patterned egg
To peer into the center
To witness then to beg
Yes, he left your mother
Said he disappeared
Said I stole him from her
Decidedly, flipped fear
Then drip drip drip
The trickle
Drip drip drip the bleed
Gashes gush from every side
Every blatant need
Vigilant servant lover
Wishful injured steed
No blessed nor glory’s cover
Just bog like tacky weed
Snares at every crossing
Babies become boss
Grace shimmers only briefly
Persecution circumvents the cross
4. Silly Old Duffer
by Jack Ellison
Silly old duffer, this Canadian dude
His name is Jester Jack Ellison
Those guys in white coats try real hard
To keep him sedated and bedridden
Don’t dare let him loose in public
For fear he might cause some harm
To ordinary people walking the streets
Making farting sounds under his arm
That’s not as bad as pulling their hair
Or sticking his finger up their nose
Maybe annoying but harmless I guess
It’s really not too bad I suppose
But when he sneaks up behind you
And yanks off your brand new hair piece
That’s when we finally draw the line
Call the fuzz to get him to cease
Silly old duffer, he means no harm
Just wants some love and attention
At 87, people think he’s over-the-hill
But he’s been given a long extension
5. Cast Fear Adrift
by Deb M
If one could just bottle fears
Set them adrift in the ocean
To float a million miles away
Soul freed in just one motion
If only it was that easy
To rid oneself of fears
To bottle and simply set sail
Just like that…..disappeared!
6. Mind the Gap
by Anonymous
Mind the gap between head and heart
Oh hermit, stand erect
Joyful living is a learnt art
The path of love’s perfect
Free from cravings that bind
Leave each erst fear behind
Bliss grows in tranquil mind
Do not nap
Mind the gap
7. Repristination
by Roger Carvis
Her pristine sky, once crystal clear,
drifted away in dusk of morn.
Her troubled heart, tainted by fear,
was caught in pit of laming scorn.
In dark of night, she cried in pain.
She wept in bleakness of the dawn;
Trying to break her steely chain,
so she could cast her brand new spawn.
But hope is bright for promise of tomorrow.
Even the hopeless can have their chance.
She hoped that one day, her misery and sorrow,
would turn to glee, as it was once.
For, great feat comes to those who seek,
but hope is born with those who persist.
A time will come when dawn will break;
The scourge of darkness will cease to exist.
Thus, came the day she’d waited for.
Sunlight shone bright on her windowpane.
Her sky is crystal clear once more.
The past was gone, so with the pain.
8. My Island My Land
by Emma Good Ridge-Hobson
I long for my island
Asleep in the sea
A perfect location
Made just for me
Far from the rat race
The fear and the dread
No shop for my cravings
No milk and no bread
I travel there often
In my mind in the night
When my headspace is full up
When I’m losing the fight
My island’s as real
As any reality
My perfect location
Asleep in the sea
Journey, don’t travel,
If your roots are deep set
Your mind is an atlas
You can never regret.
9. The Fear
by Emma Goodridge-Hobson
Darkness spreads
Across the land
Step outside
Take my hand.
I am close
Forever near
To be support
To lend an ear.
Be not afraid
To vocalise
Fears and demons
Don’t disguise
deep felt feelings
All that doubt
Just open your mouth
And let it out!
Poems about Fear for Children
Children also experience fear, and poems about fear can help them understand and cope with this emotion. These poems about fear for kids
can be both playful and comforting, providing a safe space for kids to explore their fears.
1. The Fearful Child
by Carol Frost
As a child I parleyed with animals, stuffed and real.
Making my kitten pilot of a boot, I guided
from one end of a string the dizzy flight and collapse.
I was fearful of people as well as things,
and my faithful toy shepherd with his painted face
sat by me on the bed in the gloom.
I was disdainful of dolls as weak people.
In the favorite story I told myself my parents
were made over into fair-limbed, brave angels
who smiled into their god’s eyes when summoned.
I was benevolent, afraid to let go of this image
at night because I couldn’t hide deep enough
under the covers to be overlooked by death,
the angel bending over me who had been wronged.
I read histories of queens, regal and barbarian,
whose leopard’s eyes restrained man or wild beast.
I rambled along tidal rivers and in the marshes
where the green-golden grasses dazzled the sun,
and felt the ache of sea-air in my lungs.
I saw water spume near Atlantic cliffs.
I examined lichen. I saw great light drown darkness.
Then at thirteen I lay in the bleak bed before sleep
and heard the pleadings and the murderous kisses;
and burned, like a bear his fat, my soul.
I quaked at the sound of my voice whispering, No,
or turned my face to the wall
and wept salt onto my knuckles.
In the serene light of sun-up, before sparrows
tumbled up from the earth, whispering and singing,
and the exquisite sea and sky mobilized
their heavy, blue currents, I was consoled.
I walked through beauty without knowing why
and told no one, wanting nothing else to touch me
and never to move anyone in any way.
I hid away from the house and learned the dark
was not a dream but could show the pale gravel
of a real driveway. I saw for the first time
later the new moon and the full moon
in one piece. I no longer feared the night,
night like a bear at ease in his wide habitat.
In the greatness of such space I said, This is me.
2. Kids Fears
by Phil Soar
Monsters in a cupboard
Beasts under the stairs
Bogey men in Bogey holes
That give your neck the hairs
Ghostly images on walls
That appear quite at random
And noises that give you the creeps
And fear that works in tandem
As kids, these things all scare us
And our parents use this tool
To make their lives a little less stressed
And to keep us kids with rules
We dared not look under the stairs
Or sleep with both eyes closed
And yet these ghosts and monsters
Were never as we supposed
No monsters in the cupboards
No beasts under the stairs
No bogey men, but then again
They could have been right there
3. Child Fears and Afraid
by Gnrao Rao
Why do you inject
Fear in the hearts
Of a young child?
Is it because
You have become old
And you have seen
this world and enjoyed
All happy moments?
Don’t you want the
Child to live his days
And enjoy?
How selfish are you?
Why tell him about the
Third World War?
If you, all of you,
Want to destroy,
Don’t destroy part by part,
Find an atom/nuclear bomb
Which will devastate
The Whole world,
So no one will be alive,
You alone can live and
Enjoy with your like-minded
People.
Enough of Wars, terrorists,
Atrocities.
Allow the children of
The world to live and
Enjoy.
If you really want to
Destroy the world,
You destroy yourself
Because that is in your
Hands.
Live and let live,
Let the children of the Universe also
Enjoy God’s creations and
Beauty.
4. Being Brave at Night
by Edgar Albert Guest
The other night ‘about two o’clock, or maybe it was three,
An elephant with shining tusks came chasing after me.
His trunk was wavin’ in the air an’ spoutin’ jets of steam
An’ he was out to eat me up, but still I didn’t scream
Or let him see that I was scared – a better thought I had,
I just escaped from where I was and crawled in bed with Dad.
One time there was a giant who was horrible to see,
He had three heads and twenty arms, an’ he came after me
And red hot fire came from his mouths and every hand was red
And he declared he’d grind my bones and make them into bread.
But I was just too smart for him, I fooled him mighty bad,
Before his hands could collar me I crawled in bed with Dad.
I ain’t scared of nothin’ that comes pestering’ me at night.
Once I was chased by forty ghosts all shimmery and’ white.
An’ I just raced ’em round the room an’ let ’em think maybe
I’d have to stop and’ rest awhile, when they could capture me.
Then when they leapt onto my bed, Oh Gee! But they were mad
To find that I had slipped away and crawled in bed with Dad.
No giants, ghosts or elephants have dared to come in there
‘Coz if they did he’d beat ’em up and chase ’em to their lair.
They just hang ’round the children’s rooms
an’ snap and’ snarl and’ bite
An’ laugh if they can make ’em yell
for help with all their might.
But I don’t ever yell out loud. I’m not that sort of lad,
I slip from out the covers and I crawl in bed with Dad.
5. Fear not, My Child!
by Ugochi Ohaja
When life tosses you about like the raging sea
When the road you walk is perilously rough
When the darkness is such that you cannot see
Fear not, my child, for I am always with you
When wars threaten to overtake and defeat you
When the enemies’ snares are all over your path
When their boastings sound so scary and true
Fear not, my child, for I will fight for you
I knew you long before you came to be
I knew that these challenges will test your faith
I knew that in me you’ll have the victory
So fear not my child, and stand your ground
6. I Fear Growing Up
by Anonymous
As a child I can be none conforming but when I would have to conform to everything the society says
No one saw my fault.
Fate and luck alone were
called the culprit.
Like me, all others
were allowed to go.
Only fate was blamed.
The child in my heart,
fears to grow, as the
man on the street does.
All the Statesmen, the
Clergy, and General,
were praised and not
punished or pardoned.
That is what they did
deserve, yet someone
was found to blame.
Only to name a culprit
the whole energy spent
only to say sorry for
what had fallen on the,
innocent, and poor that
killed them when they
could have been fed.
Seeing those that do
inspire the society,
the child in me fears
growing up.
Poems about Fear of the Unknown
The fear of the unknown is one of the most common and powerful fears we experience. Poems about fear of the unknown can offer insight into how we can confront the unknown and find courage in the face of uncertainty.
1. Fear of the Unknown
by Graham Jones
I come now from those foreign places
Unknown to those with hidden faces
Bedecked and different, for them to leer
As one unknown, something to fear
Am I not I that you can see?
What is the fear you see in me?
This faceless one, that makes you quake
I hold no fear it’s what you make
Deceive yourself if that you may
And cringe from that which spells decay
I hold no terrors in these hands
I am but a vessel to unknown lands
There is nothing to fear but fear itself
Of what, the memory of love or wealth
You will take my hand, make no mistake
A new life starts as you awake.
The fear of the unknown …”
The fear of the unknown…”
The greatest fear is the fear of the unknown.
Greater than the greatest fear the world has ever known.
Not knowing what the future holds can be a frightening thing.
We can’t predict tomorrow, don’t know what it will bring.
Living with uncertainty can cause us lots of strife.
Can paralyze you to your core and cut you like a knife.
One day our lives will reach an end, no longer will we be.
Exactly where we go from here is still a mystery.
Is the afterlife in heaven?
Am I damned to burn in hell?
Where do we really go from here?
There’s just no way to tell.
People aren’t comfortable outside their comfort zone.
The greatest fear is the fear of the unknown.
2. Fear of the Unknown
by Louis D’Alto
The dark corner and the deep sea
The high sky and who I should be
The uncertainty creeps in
As the lights begin to dim
What is hiding in those shadows?
Planning to take me to the gallows
Slithering like a snake
To hurt me before I wake
To take me from my home
Or to let their hands roam?
To dump me in the ocean
Where I could die in slow motion
Or swim around to find
Something that’s extremely unkind
To sink down below
Where no human could go
Swimming higher is even worse
Reaching for the moon is a curse
To reach for the moon and land among the stars
To drift further all the way to mars?
Staying in this shell
It’s almost like hell
But stepping out of it is scary
It’s not all going to be merry
Being myself is all I want to do
Going out there and to myself staying true
Stepping into the dark I find
That my bedroom stays quite kind
Stepping on a swaying boat
I managed to stay afloat
Jumping from a platform twenty feet high
I land just fine with a sigh
I want to go further into the unknown
To step out of my comfort zone
Writing all my feelings away
To show the world and see what they say
To this dream I cling
And my words i bring
Standing here grinning
I’ll face you and say this is just the beginning
3. Fear of the Unknown
by Anonymous
The witching hour
Dripping like silken velvet through
Hushed silence
Broken only by summer winds
Inside the recess of my restless mind
Thoughts bubble
Churning gentle ideas
Into frenzied cognition
My demons rising
Feasting on anxiety……
Behind the lidded curtains of my eyes
I see your face
Soothing the fear
I can feel your hands upon me
Untangling the tension
In your eyes
I see
Love
The blower of dreams
Leaping into the unknown
4. Fear of The Unknown
by Matt Jarvis
It can really get you down
How do you deal with what you cannot see?
How do you react and how must you be?
‘Carry on regardless’ or stop and hide away,
Stay out of the outdoors or carry on and play?
Be safe and keep inside,
run away and simply hide?
The job you love in danger,
The life you know much stranger.
Fear of the unknown,
Never seen whilst you have grown.
Fear of the unknown,
It can really get you down.
Stay strong and keep on fighting,
Ignore what the media is writing.
Cling to your loved ones dearly,
This is a blip, surely, clearly.
Fear of the unknown,
It will end in time, subside,
Until then, keep going with pride.
5. Fear of Dreams
by Anonymous
I wake up every day, reminiscing
Crying and weeping for dreams gone by
Thinking and regretting a life passing by
An unhappy event consuming my age
That’s life I wish I could forget.
Step by step, I go round
Fearful of going a wrung up
Because life goes on anyway
A fear of the unknown
But always reminding myself, dreams are not a fallacy.
This morning I woke up
Told myself, like I always’ to stop day dreaming
But I still find myself walking the same walk
Through that safe path never in my dreams
As night falls, I start all over, regretting
Why don’t I ever walk my dream land?
Oh Lord, I cry, I have been a loser too long
I die to stand on that podium, keep my head up
I crave to win, but what the hell is wrong
Did you give me less guts than everybody?
I guess you just watch and mourn, another talent well buried.
You took me to the river
The choice was mine not to drink
You opened the doors wide
I closed my eyes, went wide of the entrance
I heard you answer my knock over and over
Great God, I can’t blame you anymore.
But today I give myself up
That I will dream and walk the walk
I will crawl through the low down holes
I will vault high over the barricades
I will reach the crown, I will keep the king within.
Poems about Fear and Anxiety
Anxiety is a type of fear that can be both debilitating and exhausting. Poems about fear and anxiety can help us understand these emotions and find ways to manage them in our daily lives.
1. The Monster
by Olivia M Likens
When they ask me what I am afraid of,
I lie.
I can never expose you,
never tell the truth about you
for fear of speaking you into existence.
You are my punisher and my captor,
my tormentor, my torturer.
You are the little voice inside of my head
telling me bad, bad things to do to myself,
things I can’t talk about
for fear I’ll forget who I am and turn into you.
You tell me we are one and the same, but I am not you.
I would never hurt a child the way you have hurt me.
I would never tell a young girl she is unlovable,
or fat,
or ugly,
or crazy,
or worthless.
I would never tell her to carve ugly, terrible words into her body,
to hold a flame to her skin,
until she has burned herself so badly that the pain goes out like a light
and her nerves are dead,
just like she should be.
I don’t know why I listen to you
when you force me to my knees in front of the toilet.
When you send me running around the house in a panic,
searching in vain for a pencil sharpener I haven’t already dismantled.
When you tell me the closest to love
I will ever come is sending naked pictures of myself
to disgusting hunters of young prey.
But I am not afraid of them.
I am afraid of the shadows of my mind
of the twisted and warped reality I am living in.
And I scream, because it is all in my head.
I scream because none of it is real.
I scream because you are clawing your way up my throat,
stealing my voice, gouging out my eyes, eating away at the lining of my stomach,
turning my bones to jello and my hair to dust,
destroying, destroying, destroying, destroying, destroying, destroying.
Enough.
I have had Enough. I am not you.
I never was.
I never will be.
This is only a body, and you are only a feeling, and I will rise above.
I am above this, above you, above my thoughts, above it all.
And I will survive.
And I will love me.
And I will not let go.
2. Breathe
by Tiffaney L. Ganci
Panic, worry, darkness closing in around me.
These are some of the words I could use to describe my anxiety,
but nothing I can say could speak of its entirety,
as I cry internally thinking I’ve lost my sanity.
Doctors, counselors, saying there’s something wrong with me.
My parents telling me to calm down and stop being so crazy.
But how can I calm down when the world around me
is spinning out of control and I can barely see?
Breathe. You will get through this.
You will get through the sleepless nights,
all the internal fights,
and the days that seem right
when the world hits you with all its might.
Breathe. You will get through this.
I know you think I’m overreacting about the silliest little things,
but to me those silly little things seem like the doom the world could bring.
Can’t you see, a spilled glass of milk to you can seems like an earthquake to me.
I know it might be hard to understand my anxiety,
but I hope today I have given you some clarity.
So the next time someone is scared and feels like they can’t breathe,
shaking and crying, unable to see,
don’t tell them they’re overreacting; don’t call them crazy.
Help them realize there is more to life than this misery,
and no matter the doubt inside, they will be who they are meant to be.
Breathe. I will get through this.
Because I know I am more than just my anxiety,
and one day I hope to be free of it entirely.
But until then, I will keep telling myself, quietly,
I am stronger than this. I am stronger than my anxiety.
3. Signed, Your Mind
by Emma
Get dressed, love.
You’re going to be late.
You look at yourself in the mirror,
The one you really hate.
Put it down, love.
It’s caused you so much pain.
You’re going to do damage.
You don’t want to be called insane.
Stand up, love.
Your tears make you weak.
Wipe off that black mascara,
Proof of sadness upon your cheek.
Take your pills, love.
You must try your very best.
Forget about your dizzy spells,
The tightening in your chest.
Chin up, love.
No one can know your thoughts.
You must act like you’re happy
While your heart just sits and rots.
Smile a little, love.
Let me see those pearly whites.
No one has to know
What you thought about all those nights.
Breathe for me, love.
Your pain won’t be forever.
Take my hand, and I’ll take yours.
We’ll get through this together.
4. Mysterious Pain
by Peggy Stewart
With her head hung low
and nowhere to go,
she can’t explain
this mysterious pain.
It comes on so fast.
How long will it last?
Her heart is just pounding; her head starts to spin.
Please go away; she does not want you in.
She’s uncontrollably crying.
It feels like she’s dying.
Her body is trembling; her hands start to shake.
She feels so helpless with this horrible ache.
Someone, please help her; make this go away.
She can’t stand to feel this way one more day.
Someone, please help her; she’s down on her knees.
She’s scared and helpless and hopes no one sees.
With her head hung low,
not knowing where to go,
she tries to explain
this mysterious pain.
5. Silent Screams
by Aaron
Can’t you hear my silent screams?
They are so loud they echo in my dreams.
Behind this face that carries a smile
Lies a dark road that goes on mile after mile.
My silent screams have been going on for years,
But it always falls on so many deaf ears.
How can they hear these silent screams in my mind?
They can’t hear my thoughts if I keep telling them I’m fine.
What can I tell them? These silent screams carry no words.
It’s just feelings of sadness and darkness that come in its herds.
How can I explain so people understand this?
It’s like walking around in a suffocating black mist.
It’s holding on to happiness like holding water in your hands.
It just trickles between your fingers and disappears into the sands.
I can’t explain how this feels; it’s so extreme,
So I hold my mouth shut to cover my silent screams.
6. Darkness
by Evangeline King
No moon tonight
Darkness creeps in
Into my soul
Into my heart
Wondering, wondering
Can’t stop pondering
This morose condition
Tearing me apart
No moon tonight
Angst grows nigh
Tearing me down
Building a wall
Hammering, Hammering
Voices are murmuring
No one to catch me
and I’m gonna fall
No moon tonight
South grows quiet
There’s no breeze
No rustling leaves
Pounding, Pounding
Insecurities hounding
Who will bare witness
as sanity flees
No moon tonight
Darkness creeps in
Into my thoughts
Into my head
Taking, taking
pill to stop shaking
so that I may crawl
into a restless bed
7. Struggling to Breathe
by Sima
I’m feeling so scared,
I can’t breathe but I must.
Thinking so many thoughts,
Trying so hard to trust.
These fears are irrational,
But I can’t make them stop.
I just wish that they’d leave,
That my heart rate would drop.
I can’t catch my breath,
My heart’s running a race,
Against my emotions,
Struggling to keep pace.
I struggle to breathe,
But each sound makes it worse.
My world seems so dark,
I’m trying to reverse.
Away from the triggers,
Away from the pain,
All my muscles are tense,
Why can’t it be explained?
There is no good reason,
But I can’t press pause.
I don’t think this is normal,
I can’t find the cause.
God, I need you,
I can’t live on my own
You’re the only one who knows
Where my fears are sewn.
Why do they come?
What’s the cause of this pain?
I want to let go,
But I can’t just the same.
I try to calm down,
But my fears just won’t quit.
I can’t find air to breathe.
I’m stuck in this pit.
8. Where Am I?
by Christine G. Mccloskey
Is there anyone there
to help me see,
help me remember,
remember to be me?
For I feel like now
I am someone else,
and I need some help
to find myself.
Sometimes my thoughts
might drift away
with the empty look
I may portray.
You think I’m doing nothing,
but I’m doing my best
to put my busy mind
to rest.
Always so tired
trying to find the strength
and keeping my loved ones
at arm’s-length.
Never wanting
my family to see
that a once happy woman
has turned into me.
9. My Repossessed Hope
by Evangeline King
Gasping for air
I cling, I cling
to whatever’s left
to anything
Walls closing in
room spins, room spins
Getting so dizzy
this ride needs to end
Fist hammers down
the pain, the pain
Sunshine is gone
There’s nothing but rain
Fall to my knees
I cave, I cave
Tide swept me up
now I’m lost in the waves
Too tired to fight
Can’t cope, can’t cope
No way to regain
my repossessed hope
10. Dad
by Sami Chester
I know you may not think so,
But I’m trying really hard.
I don’t do it on purpose.
I did not pick this card.
I’m trying my very best
To get this hurtle jumped,
But no one else is there
To help me out of this slump.
I don’t know what you want from me.
Give me a hint or clue.
Please give me a sign.
I don’t know what to do.
If you only knew
How much I struggle in this war,
Maybe you would be there
To pick me up off the floor.
It’s time to stop pretending,
Time to open up your eyes,
To give me a hand
Instead of looks and sighs.
It’s not that I don’t love you,
And it’s not that I don’t care.
The fact is I need help too;
I need somebody there.
Poems about Fear of Love
Love can be both exhilarating and terrifying, and poems about the fear of love explore this tension in depth. These poems about fear of falling in love can help us understand why we fear love and how we can overcome our fears to experience the joys of this emotion.
1. Am I
by Anonymous
Am I Just Standing Here, or Am I Just Dead?
Am I So Full of Fear, I Lost Myself Instead?
Am I A Nobody, that you can’t defend me?
Or
Am I Just Invisible, and you really don’t pretend.
Am I Blind, Or I Just Don’t Wish to See?
The Love I Cannot Find Is Right in Front of Me!
Am I Hearing the Truth,
Or Have I Just Been Deceived?
Who Can I Trust?
Who Can I Believe?
Am I So Mad I Just Can’t Understand,
Or Am I So Sad I Need a Shoulder and A friend?
Is It Just Me,
Or Am I All Alone?
2. Your Child’s Eyes
by Vince Suzadail Jr.
The innocence lost so long ago
The undying faith we used to know
The gentle rain of a summer’s skies
You can find it all in your child’s eyes.
The world was right one time it seems
And we could reach beyond our dreams
To meet a challenge of any size
That fire still burns in your child’s eyes.
In a world of anger and miscontent
And the frustrations of a life misspent
And you wait in fear as the storms arise
You can still find peace in your child’s eyes.
Take the time for all those things
Hear his words: feel the joy he brings
There is no hate; there are no lies
There is only love in your child’s eyes.
3. The Sum of a Life
by Daniel Turner
This life we’re living
Is so unforgiving
Reminding us every day
Of games that we played
Choices we made
Dreams that faded away
Paths that were crossed
Loved ones we’ve lost
Still promising a brighter tomorrow
When that promise is broken
Our wounds rip back open
Leaving hope to drown in deep sorrow
From our very first breath
We’re stalked by death
We live our lives in fear
Knowing well it won’t last
So we live loose and fast
Look up and the days have become years
We add peace, subtract strife
Find the sum of a life
Discover we’ve love left for giving
Love that goes wasted
On the bitterness tasted
In a life so unforgiving
4. A Warrior for Love
by Arturo Michael
I’m a Warrior
Don’t bleed of fear
Armed and ready for battle
Anytime Anywhere
Don’t look for trouble
But if trouble be
Skies of lightning and thunder
Strike my enemies
Am a Warrior
No one’s too Big
To be cut down and defeated
By Grace of God they will
I’m the Warrior
Its win, Win or Die
Stand up for Love be not afraid…
Raise Swords up high
5. Like A Tree in The Desert
by Carol B.
Prick me with your vivid green awareness
Let the white pins that needle me
Diminish into their foggy sham
The bridal wreath that scented our commitment
Now doused in unkept hopes and promises
Moss sprouting venom from hurts battled
Like a fish floating in space with no oxygen
I swam in currents without you
The tank occupied with endless dark clouds
Fraught with fear and loneliness
Love now submerged deep in the recess of my mind
Unclear what is sacred what is trash
I prayed you would see the light
That my white knight would return
This battle is fierce and yours to fight
6. Breaking Bad
by Arthur Vaso
Criminals
dance with slum lords
they shed fake tears
victims they shout
from Ivory towers
Mock and attack
they of dark cloth and deceit
possesses no real God
they whoreship only their prey
living by night not day
Some even screech praise untowards
sick is the mind who follows
dead morals and upended graves
they really are the bully’s slaves
Yet their churches pew is full
Criminals all
singing love songs
sewing fear and anger
no wonder God got fed up
evicting them one and all
7. Hearts at Odds
by Jo Daniel
Hearts made of wax, sent through the mail
Should help relax, instead I wail,
They will soon melt in time’s hot hands,
Loneliness is felt midst life’s strands;
Hearts made of glass shatter and fail
When griefs harass, they don’t prevail,
What use are these hearts so feeble,
Poor pleas of perishing people?
Hearts made of stone are cold and fake,
Even Love will own – “Hard to break”,
Will they be healed? How can I trust?
Feelings concealed, what if they bust?
Hearts made of flesh and blood, I seek,
They won’t crush my sentiments meek,
Understanding hearts of love – Now,
fear departs, before them I bow.
8. Life on The River
by Bill Baker
A balance in life can solve the riddle.
To find the balance, start in the middle.
Distractions from the banks may lead us wrong.
Go with the flow where the current is strong.
The banks are sirens calling to our ears,
offering us pleasures relieving fears.
The emotion of love, the fear of pain,
tossing and turning, driving us insane.
Too much pleasure can lead to addiction,
pain and sickness can lead to restriction.
Reject their temptations, stay in the flow,
the river is wise and knows where to go.
Avoid extremes, be content with enough.
Life on the river, no need for the fluff.
Poems about Fear of Failure
The fear of failure can imprison us in our personal and professional lives. Poems about this fear can help us understand why we fear failure and how we can overcome it to achieve our goals.
1. Failure Can Be Tough
by Catherine Pulsifer
Failure can be tough,
The losses more than enough.
But stand up right away,
Smile and don’t feel betray.
Though it may seem unfair,
Don’t give up, don’t despair.
The outcome ain’t set in stone,
So stay strong and apply what is now known.
Let failure guide your progress,
New ways to assess.
Look at what has failed and ask
How do I move forward with this task?
So, never let failure take away
From your end goal don’t stray.
Shed no tears but find the energy
Don’t let failure be a penalty.
2. Life’s Failures
by Julie Hebert
In life we will have failures, always wishing we had waivers,
To take back what we’ve just done.
So take some time, to sit and unwind,
So you can see what you’ve learned from.
It may be something small, maybe even smaller than a doll,
Something that not everyone else would see,
But the important part is, that you take the quiz,
To learn something that’s within thee.
So why don’t we just let, failures be the threat,
Because failure is more than just that.
If we can allow ourselves to see, that failure is a key,
Our next attempt may have a better chance at.
So start to change your mind, that a failure can be kind,
If we allow ourselves to learn from it.
No more shall a failure bring, unhappiness to him
As it’s now one less failure to submit.
3. Failure’s Crushing Blow
by Catherine Pulsifer
In failure’s crushing blow we find our strength to grow,
Experience in its wake from which to learn.
None can guarantee destiny plays no prank,
Never let go of failure lessons earned.
No man ever succeeds on his first attempt;
Roll with the haymakers and do not despair.
Even if you stumble on the way you went,
Look back and see – truly failure’s best thing there!
4. Take Courage
by Catherine Pulsifer
Look not upon your failures and their hurdles high,
Take courage for this time, for the time shall pass by,
Do not be discouraged if you’re stuck in a bind,
Observe what is before you, and gather your mind.
Learn from the mistakes that taught us not to fret,
Grow onwards ever onwards with each hard fought step.
Your inner strength and wisdom will now be tested true,
With courage and confidence set off anew.
5. If at First
by Catherine Pulsifer
If at first, you don’t succeed,
Take a deep breath, wipe away your tears,
Don’t let failure shake you off your feet.
Achieving goals, at times, is no easy feat.
Fear not the outcome, stand proud and tall,
Lift yourself up for another try and above all,
No matter how hard it might be,
Never give up because success you may see!
6. Suggestion
by Clifford Greve
To believe the song of the failures
In a land where good men have won
Is casting your lot with the losers;
And doing what they have done.
To listen and learn from the winners,
Is winning yourself — their stake!
You need not fear the advice you hear
But beware whose advice you take!
7. The Real Successes
by Edgar A. Guest
You think that the failures are many,
You think the successes are few,
But you judge by the rule of the penny,
And not by the good that men do.
You judge men by standards of treasure
That merely obtain upon earth,
When the brother you’re snubbing may measure
Full-length to God’s standard of worth.
The failures are not in the ditches,
The failures are not in the ranks,
They have missed the acquirement of riches,
Their fortunes are not in the banks.
Their virtues are never paraded,
Their worth is not always in view,
But they’re fighting their battles unaided,
And fighting them honestly, too.
There are failures to-day in high places
The failures aren’t all in the low;
There are rich men with scorn in their faces
Whose homes are but castles of woe.
The homes that are happy are many,
And numberless fathers are true;
And this is the standard, if any,
By which we must judge what men do.
Wherever loved ones are awaiting
The toiler to kiss and caress,
Though in Bradstreet’s he hasn’t a rating,
He still is a splendid success.
If the dear ones who gather about him
And know what he’s striving to do
Have never a reason to doubt him,
Is he less successful than you?
You think that the failures are many,
You judge by men’s profits in gold;
You judge by the rule of the penny–
In this true success isn’t told.
This falsely man’s story is telling,
For wealth often brings on distress,
But wherever love brightens a dwelling,
Their lives; rich or poor, a success.
8. Dream Again
by Patience Strong
When your dreams have failed you –
Dream again…
When you think you’re beaten –
Dream again…
Failure cannot break your heart –
Life’s a game, so play your part –
Dare to make another start.
Dream again…
Next time you’ll be stronger – wiser too –
Think of all the things you meant to do –
Keep the glory of the goal in view –
and dream again…
Do not heed the world, its taunts and jeers –
Lift your eyes and face the coming years –
All great things are bought with human tears –
So dream again.
9. Failures You Have None?
by Catherine Pulsifer
If failures you have none
If mistakes you have not one
Then living you are not
You’re living in the same spot.
You see to get ahead
You must live, not play dead
Some risks you may have to take
You have to live life awake.
Failures you will see
Some may not be pretty
But learn from them and then go on
Success is not stumbled upon.
We all make mistakes
But let that give your head a shake
Start again with new knowledge
It will put you above the average.
So let your failures teach you
The one thing that was the issue
With determination and persistence too
You will find success in what you do!
Poems about Fear in Life
Fear is a normal part of the human experience, and fear poems about life offer insights into how we can navigate this complex emotion. These works can inspire us to confront our fears and live our lives with courage and conviction.
1. They Say
by Anonymous
The subject of my speech is one
We hear of every day—
’Tis simply all about the fear
We have of what “they say!”
How happy all of us could be,
If—as we go our way—
We did not stop to think and care
So much for what “they say!”
2. Fear of Life
by Anonymous
I stare at the blank page,
Trying to write the thousand
and one thoughts running through my mind;
as i think to myself,
about all that was,
all that is and
all that will be;
fear takes over my senses,
clouding my thoughts,
fear of the unknown,
fear of life.
3. The Fear
by Robert Frost
A lantern light from deeper in the barn
Shone on a man and woman in the door
And threw their lurching shadows on a house
Near by, all dark in every glossy window.
A horse’s hoof pawed once the hollow floor,
And the back of the gig they stood beside
Moved in a little. The man grasped a wheel,
The woman spoke out sharply, “Whoa, stand still!”
“I saw it just as plain as a white plate,”
She said, “as the light on the dashboard ran
Along the bushes at the roadside—a man’s face.
You must have seen it too.”
“I didn’t see it.
Are you sure——”
“Yes, I’m sure!”
“—it was a face?”
“Joel, I’ll have to look. I can’t go in,
I can’t, and leave a thing like that unsettled.
Doors locked and curtains drawn will make no difference.
I always have felt strange when we came home
To the dark house after so long an absence,
And the key rattled loudly into place
Seemed to warn someone to be getting out
At one door as we entered at another.
What if I’m right, and someone all the time—
Don’t hold my arm!”
“I say it’s someone passing.”
“You speak as if this were a travelled road.
You forget where we are. What is beyond?
That he’d be going to or coming from
At such an hour of night, and on foot too.
What was he standing still for in the bushes?”
“It’s not so very late—it’s only dark.
There’s more in it than you’re inclined to say.
Did he look like——?”
“He looked like anyone.
I’ll never rest to-night unless I know.
Give me the lantern.”
“You don’t want the lantern.”
She pushed past him and got it for herself.
“You’re not to come,” she said. “This is my business.
If the time’s come to face it, I’m the one
To put it the right way. He’d never dare—
Listen! He kicked a stone. Hear that, hear that!
He’s coming towards us. Joel, go in—please.
Hark!—I don’t hear him now. But please go in.”
“In the first place you can’t make me believe it’s——”
“It is—or someone else he’s sent to watch.
And now’s the time to have it out with him
While we know definitely where he is.
Let him get off and he’ll be everywhere
Around us, looking out of trees and bushes
Till I sha’n’t dare to set a foot outdoors.
And I can’t stand it. Joel, let me go!”
“But it’s nonsense to think he’d care enough.”
“You mean you couldn’t understand his caring.
Oh, but you see he hadn’t had enough—
Joel, I won’t—I won’t—I promise you.
We mustn’t say hard things. You mustn’t either.”
“I’ll be the one, if anybody goes!
But you give him the advantage with this light.
What couldn’t he do to us standing here!
And if to see was what he wanted, why
He has seen all there was to see and gone.”
He appeared to forget to keep his hold,
But advanced with her as she crossed the grass.
“What do you want?” she cried to all the dark.
She stretched up tall to overlook the light
That hung in both hands hot against her skirt.
“There’s no one; so you’re wrong,” he said.
“There is.—
What do you want?” she cried, and then herself
Was startled when an answer really came.
“Nothing.” It came from well along the road.
She reached a hand to Joel for support:
The smell of scorching woollen made her faint.
“What are you doing round this house at night?”
“Nothing.” A pause: there seemed no more to say.
And then the voice again: “You seem afraid.
I saw by the way you whipped up the horse.
I’ll just come forward in the lantern light
And let you see.”
“Yes, do.—Joel, go back!”
She stood her ground against the noisy steps
That came on, but her body rocked a little.
“You see,” the voice said.
“Oh.” She looked and looked.
“You don’t see—I’ve a child here by the hand.”
“What’s a child doing at this time of night——?”
“Out walking. Every child should have the memory
Of at least one long-after-bedtime walk.
What, son?”
“Then I should think you’d try to find
Somewhere to walk——”
“The highway as it happens—
We’re stopping for the fortnight down at Dean’s.”
“But if that’s all—Joel—you realize—
You won’t think anything. You understand?
You understand that we have to be careful.
This is a very, very lonely place.
Joel!” She spoke as if she couldn’t turn.
The swinging lantern lengthened to the ground,
It touched, it struck it, clattered and went out.
4. Ornithophobia
by Paulette Beete
I am wary of birds. Their reckless wings
too much mimic a man’s back flinging itself from
land to sky, a mad escaping lunge from sins
of a woman who burns for asking too much
with hands, with teeth. This is the way
my father’s back looked the day
he left. The sky grew small and noisy, shrill
with bird calls, better to show his skill,
all the tricks long learned for leaving.
5. Sister
by Susan Yount
It’s easy for you to lose me into the darkness.
The way the playpen door opens closes opens closes.
Once you smiled and it was like dancing lights
like birthday candles like citrine.
This fall, the house smells like syrup? Urine? Loose plumbing?
You come apart at every holiday gathering,
recall the way we taped the ripped books—
the scars your arms all part of the alphabet
of bitterness—Narcissus.
The farm. The barn. The field.
True, we couldn’t have been
much knee deep in.
Strange what I learned from you
that day you were late coming home
I couldn’t get the rusted latch closed.
6. Cake at The Funeral
by Scott Poole
It was a cemetery
in a box,
an old Halloween cake, fake grass,
headstones, and
because the bakery was out of vultures,
a gnarled tree
keeling over from a pink flamingo
on a chocolate branch.
For some reason,
it smelled like fish
and a man with one greasy foot eaten
by an eager mourner
raked chocolate lines of corduroy Zen –
like unearned loneliness.
But when they cut the cake,
the knife was sharp
and if you were lucky
you got a good chunk
with a jelly head,
a jigsaw of torso,
and part of a sugary corpse
clawing its nails
down your throat.
But with a gallon of red, sloppy wine,
one could bargain it down
and when the stomach turned
it turned to something better,
something like a celebration
of life.
7. Beltane
by Sarah Bridgins
Today the barrier between
the dead and the living
is as delicate as skin.
This is the light time,
the beginning of spring
when crops are harvested
and animals are sent to pasture
instead of slaughtered.
That must be why I’m optimistic,
making generous predictions about
the sick and how long they’ll be around.
Nothing happens in a week.
Nettles come into season.
More friends move away.
It takes longer than that
Poems about Fear and Overcoming It
Ultimately, the most powerful poems about fear are those that offer hope and inspiration. Poems about overcoming fear can remind us that we are stronger than our fears and that we can triumph over adversity.
1. The Fight – A Poem about Conquering Fear
by Justin Farley
You can cast your shadow across my future,
Across every step that approaches every opportunity, every opened door.
Try to tear down the walls of my confidence,
And attempt to convince me that I was never meant for more.
You can startle me with your swiftness,
Visit me whenever and however you please.
But I, and I alone must give you the power
To break me and to send me to my knees.
You have dwelt within every human heart,
And every human mind since the dawn of time,
Making the mundane feel like destiny,
Slowly dying, slowly binding us as prisoners of the grind.
Your power is as limitless
Or as limited, as I will it to be.
For the only person who can choose to make you master
Is the man who resides inside of me.
I will not give approval to your veil of darkness,
Nor give you bricks to construct your castle walls.
What you build up I will tear back down with action.
You may knock me down, but I will get back up when I fall.
Fear, I am marking you as my enemy –
Right here, right now, this instant, not tomorrow, but today.
For I have dreams that I must tend to,
So pack up your “what ifs” and get out of my way.
Keep coming at me with your terrors if you like,
But my place in the corner is now a vacant cell.
This heart will no longer hide from failure,
Nor choose safety over walking through the fiery hell.
I choose my destiny,
I choose to hold my dreams as a beacon in the night.
For the impossible becomes possible
The day we choose to defy you, the day we choose to fight.
2. Fear – False Expectations Appearing Real
by Air Atman
The whole world is in panic
The whole world is in fear!
They don’t know what the truth is
But they are zapped with what they hear
A virus has attacked us!
It is going to wipe out the world!
It is going to kill us all
Through the media, we are told
Is it a danger, is it real?
Or is this just a myth?
As long as we live in fear
We will never realize the truth
Of course, it has killed thousands
And it’s mainly the old
The young will mostly get away,
With a fever, cough and cold
3. Failure
by Edgar A. Guest
Failure is ceasing to try!
‘Tis accepting defeat
And to all you may meet
Giving voice to a sigh;
‘Tis in thinking it vain
To attempt furthermore
And in bowing to pain
When the muscles grow sore.
Failure is stepping aside
From the brunt of the fray
In a weak-hearted way,
Being content to abide
In the shadows that fall,
And in being afraid
Out of life, after all,
Nothing’s left to be made.
Failure is thinking despair,
The forsaking of hope,
And refusal to cope
With the day’s round of care.
It’s in heeding the cry,
All is lost! and to stay
With defeat and not try
For the happier day
4. Behind Those Beautiful Eyes
by Richard Palmer
Behind those beautiful eyes,
So much anger, so much mistrust,
Always expecting the worst,
Always conversing about the bad
things life has to offer,
Behind those beautiful eyes,
So much hurt, so much pain,
Bottled up bad experiences overflowing,
Crying to be unleashed, to be released,
Behind those beautiful eyes,
High expectation, countless plans,
Many things to still achieve,
So many things you still haven’t done,
Behind those beautiful eyes,
Is a body, searching for comfort,
A mind, searching for peace,
And a heart searching for true love,
All behind those beautiful eyes.
5. Prayer
by Richard Palmer
One more morning, after one more night,
One more thanks for keeping things right,
One prayer to bed, one as you rise,
Good morning God, thanks for another sun rise,
Prayer is the fuel that keep us going,
Through troubled times, pray for strength keep rowing,
And without fear step out, face the unknowing,
Although all around negativity blowing,
Every day, even one positive seed, try sowing,
Within my veins, God love is flowing,
God is my friend, the devil, not interested to know him,
Here comes the garbage truck, over there throw him,
Don’t just say you love God, pray show Him,
Remember prayer keeps us, spiritual growing…
6. Hope Outweighs Sorrow
by Emile Pinet
Falling in love’s magical,
it’s like your heart is on fire.
And all your heart hears is hope,
not the words of a liar.
When trust begins to weaken,
hope shores it up with more lies.
And an outpouring of pain
replaces truth as it dies.
Fear gathers up nagging doubts
as they morph into goodbyes.
And lost dreams discreetly drown
as tears spill from crying eyes.
Let time carry you away
to where hope outweighs sorrow.
For, like a river, it flows
towards a new tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Fear is a natural human emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. It can be paralyzing and overwhelming, but it can also be a source of growth and strength.
Through poetry, we can explore the different facets of fear and learn to understand it better.
From famous poems on fear that has stood the test of time to modern pieces that reflect our current experiences, there is a vast array of poems about fear
to choose from.
Whether we are seeking comfort, inspiration, or insight, poetry can help us navigate our fears and find the courage to face them.
