Fear of failure

That stone that stopped

The stepping stone

From being thrown

And lay instead

Trying not to sink

Not wanting to go under

Fear of exposure

Has stalled this stone

The lack of motion

Blocking the passage

That passes down

This river of marvels

-Camille Delaquise

This poem appears in Behind the Facade, Camille’s debut contemporary poetry collection. Fear of failure speaks to the paralysis of self-doubt — the way fear can halt movement before life has even had the chance to carry us toward growth, risk and discovery.