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.

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Awakened

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Renting the dream