Fear Alone

The light breaks clear in eastern skies each day

Reminding me the past has passed and's gone.

Just as the dew below upon the lawn

Will burn away, so like the words I say.

For dusty death awaits us all in time

And nothing can forestall it in the end.

We mustn't let that end our wills to bend

Life's ladder's only there for us to climb.

When in the course of our ascent we find

A time or two a missing rung at hand,

We grope in darkness thinking we are blind.

Yet know redoubled effort carefully timed

Will close the distance, for we understand

It's fear alone that keeps us undermined

Frank Garnick