Day Two

May Poetry Prompts

It’s May 2nd! How did Day One go for you? What are you pondering about success?

Those of you who shared poems—thank you! You literally made my day with all of your beautiful, unique poems. I’m so grateful.

Remember, you can join in these daily poem prompts anytime or hop out anytime. You can simply read my poetry if you need it, or you can dive in and write every day—it’s up to you!

Day Two: Fear

I guess the thing is,

it’s not really about the fear itself,

but the life we create based on that fear.

Who do we “other” because of the fear?

What do we let go of because of the fear?

What have we neglected because of the fear?

What dreams have we destroyed because of the fear?

The fear itself is, yes, a monster.

Ask me,

someone who has struggled and communed with fear

my entire life.

Ask me,

and I’ll tell you about the nightmares and

sleepless nights,

the broken relationships and

disembodiment.

Ask me,

and I’ll tell you, even though I’m

afraid.

What does one do with monsters?

We acknowledge them,

and that in itself is power.

We speak to them in our own strength,

and that in itself makes them weak.

We remind ourselves of love,

and that in itself decimates hate.

So, the monster, fear,

can only reach us before we’ve spoken,

before we’ve acknowledged,

before we’ve loved,

before we’ve remembered that we are not alone.

And then, after all the naming and knowing,

after all the loving,

we write poems and give ourselves

and each other

the medicine

to keep going,

even when we are afraid.