Conversation With Fear

By:  Susan

My favorite question to ask these days is

“What are you afraid of?” 

If I can name my fear,

I can loosen its grip on my body. 

I can untangle its claws from around my neck

and set it down in front me. 

When I name my fear,

and set it in front me,

I can look at it in the face and ask:

Are you for real?

Show me your credentials? 

What proof do you have that you are actually legit? 

Show me. 

Count the times you’ve been right.

See, you can’t.

You are a fake,

an impostor

conjured up by my ignorance,

my prejudices,

my insecurities,

my past mistakes.

Once I make you show your hand

You begin to melt into the ground

Like the wicked witch of the East.

But you come back

Jump on my back

Sit on my chest

Echo in my ears

So I try to talk to you nicely this time:

I hear you

You’re trying to protect me

You’ve got my best interest at heart

But how about you let me breathe a little

Let me see things with my own eyes

Know things with my own mind

Just for a few days

Maybe a week,

Maybe two.

How about you just sit in this closet

And wait for me

I promise I will check on you

Maybe in a week

Maybe in two.

And if you are legit,

I’ll listen to you.