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.

[Delmar Cooper]

To go fearlessly is not courage. To go fearfully, but to go, that is courage.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

That's so right. I hope I'll find this courage. Thank you for reading, Delmar. :) Rudi

[armin]

fear, its always difficult for one to overcome his fear. You pictured the image of poem very well.

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,
I liked that phrases, well written. When we fear we always feel a kind of noise in silence that part seems so frightening. I would like to share a incident when I was about 10 ,once I was left alone in my home alone. Mom dad attended a marriage. Suddenly electricity cut off even I could not find a candle, inverter was not working . I wore a blanksheet over my body and tried to sleep. Really I experienced horrible kind of voices in home I was shivering with fear. But I got an idea I hold the God' s
locket and I slept with a pillow over my head. That was really a frightening night I still remember. Some months later it was found that the house was haunted and we had to shift from there to new one. I don't believe much in ghosts or anything like that. But my parents do, they think supernatural powers exist in our world.
Ha ,I memorized the incident so I shared with you.
Your write was amazing
Nice job,

armin. ...

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you very much for your kind words and for sharing this memory with me. Must be frightening for a little child to being alone in a house. Once my oldest son, when he was about 8 years, visited Disneyland Paris with his school. He was the youngest one in the group. At a certain moment, he got lost and the group hadn't seen him. When he found his way again they were gone to another place in Disneyland. Didn't know the language, he was frightened and got a trauma out of it, he carried with him several years. Thank you again. :) Rudi

[Olumegbon]

I was told about your writing and no doubt, its marvellous... Good work

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you Olumegbon, for taking time to read my writing. Glad you liked it. :) Rudi

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the poem. The artwork and words made me wander to a different place and thoughts. I like the inner thoughts and the good description leading to the very good ending. Fear is a good and bad things. Can make us feel alive and make us want to escape into loneliness. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you John, wrote is yesterday as a reaction to the brutal massacra of more than 10 people in Paris. :) Rudi

[Coyote Poetry]

It is a scary world. I have kids and grandchildren. What did I leave for them?

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Yes, that's the question, isn't it. We have put them on this world, they are our responsability and in a way we promissed them not to be harmed ever...but I fear we can't hold our promesses if thing are going this way. Thank you so much for you kind words. :) Rudi

[Relic's Bare Trees]

Excellent poetry. We all have the capacity to fear something and at one time or another we all do. Sometimes it never goes away.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

That's right Tim. Thank you for reading and reviewing. :) Rudi

[Matching Socks]

Difficult to overcome that which we fear Rudi, your words express that feeling of overwhelming desperation and frustration so well. Takes courage to face this.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thanks for your kind words, Ana Sophia, have written the first draft of this yesterday evening and finishing this morning as an answer or a result to the terrost attack in Paris. The most primordial fear there is, fear for your life. I'm shocked by the images and the newsflashes of this slaughtering and I realise that all the words that I can write will not take the fear away. :) Rudi

[Matching Socks]

It's shocking every time I see something like that.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

I can't understand such things happen, they have brought war to our European cities. First a Jewish synagoge in Brussels, now cartoonists in Paris. It has to stop, I don't know how, but this is inhuman behaviour. :)

[Laura Lynn]

I am afraid of writing, that I will not be a good writer. I never even thought of trying to write until I read a how to book about it. Needless to say, I know I will never be a Pullitzer Prize winner, but something about all those accomplished authors really tells me, that there is something to be said for such works of literature. So many people feel that they do not have time for it, and it is a mystery what we all have time for or do not. I am continually upset that we are each not omniscient beings, able to be everywhere and do everything at once, mastering each discipline and creative endeavor so to speak, why be bothered that I am not a God myself, still there is something about it makes one feel that one should be able to conquer in such ways, thanks for being genuine about your fear, not afraid to say you are fearful

[willweb]

Rudi, this is wonderful and no we can't change who we are, though it seems we constantly try. And words with no meanings...I think not, your words always carry meaning, have no fear of that.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you for saying that and I would say as the French people who came into the streets yesterday after the terrorist attack: I'm not afraid....but that would be a lie, I'm afraid this will be only the beginning. :) Rudi

[willweb]

Fear is their goal my friend, it is the currency they use to purchase their ways.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Yes, I afraid you're right. :)

[Lenah Mehzabin]

There is always a persn who will say wrong 'there will always be opposition in the same way fear may crept in mind making us feel to disappear. But when ur hand will be your only map and your ear will only listen to a guide nams heart than this fear will sure die .. :)) .A great poetry Rudi ,really valuable !

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you very much, ReD, for your kind words, they also bring light and colour on a cold and dreary day here in Belgium. :) Rudi

[Lenah Mehzabin]

It's a great honour : ) ..my pleasure