Fear

Have wings that feared

Ever touched the sun

              Rabi’ Basri

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It might be said that fear keeps us safe,

And I suspect it does

Out of fear we exclude

And judge

Looking always for threats

Keeping them at arm’s length

Keeping people too

Away

From our shores

Our communities

Our neighborhoods

And sadly

Our hearts

but isolated

and angry

we are very much alone

our worlds limited

to the smallness we have become

little people

little souls

little hearts

little

the grand adventure of love

the surprise that is joy

that expansion of heart and soul

life exploding

into light

that is not for the fearful ones

cowering within

their many walls

I will take my chances

Spread my wings

And touch, if only for a searing moment

The sun

And my heart will break

With infinite sadness

For those peeking out

From behind their walls

Safely

diminished