Paralyzed

Fear...

It stops, it blocks, its chains wrap tight like a noose

Strangles, chokes, mutes, and constricts

It holds tight and dares you to expose yourself

To risk is to suffer

To present yourself at the mercy of harm

To lay prostrate before pain and destruction

Fear tightens its grip and binds

As it captive, it pierces you with claws that tears into soft flesh

Clings to the bones and bites into marrow

The mental body contorts in frozen agony under the pressure of fear, Catatonic...

A touch so cold, as to paralyze all life and function.

Its reach is limitless, none is safe

The strong bow before the power of fear

The meek tremble and call it their master

Like a disease it spreads, the unseen contagion that is fear...

Tension eclipses movement, that invisible snake that constricts my muscles to produce pain

My breath escapes and gasping for air, I am left in cold darkness, unable to move.

Freedom feels so far away so distant

Where is safety? Where is light?

But fear has a weakness, it has an enemy

The fire chases fear, fights for light, the fires of ambition burn and scorches the earth that fear has left frozen

Like new rain or a blue moon, I am inspired

Movement fills my soul, I stand firm, my resolve a flaming sword...

I have finally learned how to fight....fear