Fear of the Unknown

Rozanne Paxman

Fear of the Unknown

  

Fear of the Unknown is a terrible fellow. He stands in hip boots and

      shakes fists in the air.

He pulls frightening faces. He points, and he paces. He laughs when

       he scares you. He just doesn't care.

 Fear of the Unknown is a terrible, wild man. He'll rip up your sofa

       and steal all your bread.

He'll total your car and embezzle your money. He'll fire you, disown

     you, and leave you for dead.

Fear of the Unknown is a powerful fellow 'cause that's what he's told

     you and that's what you think.

But the truth of the truth (and it's time that you knew it) is that

     Fear of the Unknown's a weak, sniveling stink.

He is vanquished forever when questions are answered –

     the ill-mannered questions that torment at night--

The questions that stand in the back of your closet that jump out and

     get you and give you a fright.

"What if you fail here?" He whispers and teases. "What if they fire

     you and send you away?

You'll starve, don't you know? You can't handle disasters. You're

     weak. You're a coward. You're foolish and lame."

"What if you're sick?" He mentions while moaning. "What if you're

     so sick that you pass away?

You'll leave them behind without any money. They'll suffer and hate

     you when you're in your grave."

Fear of the Unknown is a persistent fellow. He sits in the parlor and

     rides in your truck.

He follows you closely and sticks to your clothing. He walks in your

     shadow and laughs when you're stuck.

Fear of the Unknown is a sham of a fellow. His questions of terror

     you do need to hear.

So listen and grab them and hold them and squeeze them. Write

     them and read them. Get rid of the fear.

Prepare for the worst things, the worst that he tells you. Decide

     what you'd do if your nightmares come true.

Consider each one, from beginning to finish. How would you

     manage? What would you do?

And then he will leave you, old Fear of the Unknown. He'll leave

     you alone. He will go far away.

Preparing and planning when you hear his questions are certain to

     scare him. He'll go without pay.

'Cause Fear of the Unknown loves shadows and darkness.

     Fear of the Unknown loves terror at night.

He doesn't like bravery or courage or action. He doesn't like

     people who put up a fight.