Biopsy of fear

Old man steps out his back door into darkness,

Shivers with apprehension that borders on fear,

Childhood bogeymen who lurk in the dark.

He gathers himself, reaches down for old habits:

Steps off his porch, walks towards the woods,

Finds a darker place among the shadows,

Closes his eyes and waits for fear to become courage,

For prey to become hunter,

…if only he can keep his eyes closed long enough.

But tonight fear does not transmogrify.

He fears for his children, his grandchildren,

His friends and his wife

…things that go bump in the night.

He stands in the dark, wishes fear

Would grow tired and quit before he does,

Returns to his porch, opens the back door – left unlocked

Against the darkness and walks back into the light.

9-24-22