Fear
In a world ordained by mad men
I am treading water gulping for freedom
Paralysis grips the body
The struggle to move mounts
Would it be more peaceful to slip away
Call it a day and be done with it
Along the horizon the sunrise beamed
Not much of a choice
I take a breath
Release it
Find that I can stand
With support
Fear is in retreat
-Camille Delaquise
This poem appears in RISE, Camille’s second contemporary poetry collection. Fear speaks to the threshold between despair and endurance — tracing how support, breath and the smallest return of steadiness can begin to loosen fear’s hold in a world shaped by violence and instability.
This poem is available as a contemporary poetry print on textured recycled card.