i have seen the face of love
and i have seen the face of fear

i have felt the liberating power of love
and the contraction and tightness of fear

i have stood naked and vulnerable
as love’s breath filled me
and nearly killed me

and i have stood still, trembling,
as fear occupied my body
with it’s dread
and it’s convincing words
whispered and screamed
in increasing urgency

only one of those faces
has any kindness

and although both of them burn
only one of those fires
can transform
sorrow to joy

fear is ego’s demonic face
and love’s arch enemy
for it knows in the face of love it will wither and perish
so it spins and twists and cavorts, writhes and cheats and screams
to stay alive and in control

love does not care, it is too busy blazing a trail
like a star across the night sky.

Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash