It begins innocent: from survival, nature,

children in dark hallways soon are frozen by fear.

We follow our impulse of self-discovery

until peers or doubt render us frozen by fear.

The solace of love eludes most the cowardly,

those who cannot bear defeat are frozen by fear.

Our life happens to us—divine dictum and curse

when we forfeit its reins and are frozen by fear.

Questions not asked and words never spoken aloud

tarnish the world pitch black, we are frozen by fear.

Authorities and their draconian reveries,

thrive on the cowering of those frozen by fear.

After the many pitfalls that befall the brave,

some of us revel in being frozen by fear.

Will you dear reader, will I, choose also this fate?

Or look up and ahead, not down, frozen by fear?