A Metaphor on Fear
can we overcome fear?
from day-to-day living
it may be seldom experienced
and then
reappear
driving into town
late at night
there was a man standing on the meridian
next to my car stopped at a traffic light
he slowly walked closer to me
and something about him or me
came on as a strong fear
he wasn’t carrying anything
just a drink in one hand
i wanted to make sure my doors were locked
but knew they did so automatically
i felt frozen
and then our eyes locked
oh what his eyes revealed
a suffering, a need
a not wanting to ask
but a pleading look
and why could i not respond
in that instant there was a bond
and a sadness
on both parts
he could see the fear
and moved on
to a car that had pulled up behind me
and then the light changed
and i moved on
quite shaken by the experience
what was the sense that brought on my fear?
in the daylight i had often given food or cash
wanting to share with someone in need
did he look threatening, angry, unstable?
no, just vulnerable
how is it we communicate in an unspoken way?
what are our innate senses that guide us?
what is the loss when we don’t ask the questions?
what could i have done?
so it is now i ask “are you okay?”
and then go on to seek help and pray
pray for his safety, pray for his health
and pray for forgiveness
and the next day
it was all clear as day
a metaphor for the fear in our world
what screen and media exposure and past life events
stir within us and are held as cellular memory
and then
with a lack of communication
we act
we react
on a pre-cognitive emotion
without seeking understanding
gagi 08/02/22
