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dVerse Poets Pub, dversepoets, Fear, online poetry, Phobias, poems, poetics
Happy Saturday to all. My name is Stuart, and I’d like to start with a story…
When I was a boy (you might want to sit comfortably, get a warm drink & a blanket)….When I was a boy my mother used to tuck me into bed REALLY tightly. I’m talking mummified. My arms would be pinned to my sides as she tucked the sheets underneath the mattress. This just about allowed air into my lungs and blood to circulate around my body.
One night, after tucking/trapping me in my bed, she picked up a gerbil cage which I kept just to my side. As she moved it, a hairy brown shape fell off the side, uncurled its legs, and sprinted up the bed towards me as she screamed in terror.
I was trapped. An unspeakable horror was making its way towards me (clearly to kill me) and my Mother was frozen with fear.
And so my phobia was born…no wonder really, thinking about it. It still exists to this day (just ask my poor wife who has to regularly put spiders put of the window whilst I cry like a little girl). In fact, it was one of these incidents that led me to this weeks prompt!
Phobias & Fears – something we can all relate to. We are ALL scared by something (I defy you to say otherwise!) regardless of how irrational it may seem. There are so may different types of phobia’s, from the common such as Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) to Metro-phobia (A fear & hatred of poetry)- although I doubt you suffer with this if you are here and still reading!
Lets relate this to the poetic, and I’d like to refer to a great poem penned by one of my all time favourites Philip Larkin.
The poem is called ‘Aubade’ – and deals simply with Larkins own fear of death
AUBADE
I work all day, and get half-drunk at night.
Waking at four to soundless dark, I stare.
In time the curtain-edges will grow light.
Till then I see what’s really always there:
Unresting death, a whole day nearer now,
Making all thought impossible but how
And where and when I shall myself die.
Arid interrogation: yet the dread
Of dying, and being dead,
Flashes afresh to hold and horrify.
The mind blanks at the glare. Not in remorse
—The good not done, the love not given, time
Torn off unused—nor wretchedly because
An only life can take so long to climb
Clear of its wrong beginnings, and may never;
But at the total emptiness for ever,
The sure extinction that we travel to
And shall be lost in always. Not to be here,
Not to be anywhere,
And soon; nothing more terrible, nothing more true.
This is a special way of being afraid
No trick dispels. Religion used to try,
That vast moth-eaten musical brocade
Created to pretend we never die,
And specious stuff that says No rational being
Can fear a thing it will not feel, not seeing
That this is what we fear—no sight, no sound,
No touch or taste or smell, nothing to think with,
Nothing to love or link with,
The anaesthetic from which none come round.
And so it stays just on the edge of vision,
A small unfocused blur, a standing chill
That slows each impulse down to indecision.
Most things may never happen: this one will,
And realisation of it rages out
In furnace-fear when we are caught without
People or drink. Courage is no good:
It means not scaring others. Being brave
Lets no one off the grave.
Death is no different whined at than withstood.
Slowly light strengthens, and the room takes shape.
It stands plain as a wardrobe, what we know,
Have always known, know that we can’t escape,
Yet can’t accept. One side will have to go.
Meanwhile telephones crouch, getting ready to ring
In locked-up offices, and all the uncaring
Intricate rented world begins to rouse.
The sky is white as clay, with no sun.
Work has to be done.
Postmen like doctors go from house to house.
So! For this weeks prompt, write a poem about a phobia or something that scares you. This could be:-
- A poem about a real ‘phobia’ that you have (what is it, how does it effect you)
- A poem about something that scares you (for example death, spiders, politicians, bananas e.t.c
- A narrative poem- tell us a story that involves facing a fear, or tell us how it started, where did it come from? how was it born?
- An observational poem about fear (how does it effect people, how does it effect their behaviour, their lives?)
- A metaphorical poem- write about objects, places, situations that signify a fear (for example- that dark cellar, that eerie road you have to walk down that gives you goosebumps, that clown doll sat at the end of your bed when you were a child….ughh clowns….)
- A situational poem- write about a situation that has/could create an irrational fear (for example- sitting on a plane, hearing noises that make the mind race)
WHAT TO DO NEXT
- Write your poem and post it to your blog
- Add a link to your poem via the ‘Mr Linky’ below
- This opens a new screen where you’ll enter your information, and where you also choose links to read. Once you have pasted your poem’s blog URL and entered your name, click Submit. Don’t worry if you don’t see your name right away
- Read and comment on other peoples work to let them know it’s being read
- Share via your favourite social media platforms
Above all- have fun!
See you out on the trail!
By Stuart McPherson – Poet & Spoken Word Artist at http://www.poemsofhateandhope.com
tashtoo said:
Nice one Stu…happy I was able to make it 🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
TASHHHHHHHH….great to see you as always! and your poem kicked it…you KNOW this!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Happy Saturday!!! Glad to be back tending the bar…hope you guys enjoy the prompt and i cant wait to see what you come up with!
Laurie Kolp said:
LOVE the prompt Stu… thank you!
ordinarylifelessordinary said:
Okay, so I came bounding in like an excitable puppy tonight, all inappropriate, clumsy and a bit jumpy. I’m just so pleased that my muse has returned and to be back here with you lovely lovely poetry people. Ooooooh I’ve missed ya! Look forward to reading as many of you as possible.
ordinarylifelessordinary said:
Oh and fantastically dark and eerie prompt Stu, it’s not even Halloween yet 🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
you know me……captain fun….ha ha
poemsofhateandhope said:
VERY pleased to see ya back!! heading over to read right now! drink btw? Gin? Stella Artois?
hollyannegetspoetic said:
Stu, you must be a bit psychic, cos I’ve just today found myself posting about scary things… But then I do rather like writing about scary things, so maybe less of a coincidence… Anyway, here’s one I prepared earlier… 😉
Looking forward to some chilling reads on this dark autumn night…
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hollyanne…..maybe I am……spooky! ha ha great to see you and I look forward to reading. I think a great deal of art- poetry, writing, painting e.t.c deals with things we are scared of…a way of making sense of it I guess!
hollyannegetspoetic said:
I think you have a good point there… And with me chuck in a great deal of horror novels read at a young age, which seem to have left their mark… 😉
Susan L Daniels said:
Stu–great post and love the prompt.
poemsofhateandhope said:
Thank you Susan!….glad you like!! and great to see you as always 🙂
brian miller said:
tis the season of scary things eh? i grew up with a graveyard in the back yard so many of the scary stuffs fascinate me….but i def do have the fears but mostly around my family….this should be a fun exploration….good stuff stu
kkkkaty said:
Oh, now we are down to the nitty gritty…do I want everyone to know my worst fear , really??
poemsofhateandhope said:
yessssssssssssss…….its not bananas or something like that is it?
brian miller said:
haha true that…but then again if we let it out the box can we better face it?
nephiriel said:
this was pretty… intense. facing fears on a saturday evening… challenging prompt, love it!
poemsofhateandhope said:
nepheriel! great to see you…looking forward to seeing what you’ve come up with! and intensity? facing ears? oh we like that! (well…i do anyway!)
brian miller said:
every poem is written with such intensity as well…i dunno how i will sleep tonight…ha.
poemsofhateandhope said:
too right! these poems are rippin’
nephiriel said:
oooh i hear you… i have to take a break reading for now… and think of fluffy bunnies!
brian miller said:
haha…fluffy bunnies scare me….smiles….
nephiriel said:
oh boy….
poemsofhateandhope said:
fluffy bunnies are terrifying…stuffed owls even more so…and don’t get me started on talking animals on TV
Kristina said:
Good post! I’ll try to come up with something.
Glenn Buttkus said:
All Hallows Eve is on the horizon, and Stu, you are the prince of paranoia tonight! I really let her rip with my poetics; frightening even to me. Makes one truly wonder what darkness lurks in each of us.
poemsofhateandhope said:
we’ve all got it Glenn…we all have our fears! Great to see you! Oooooh prince of paranoia…i like that
Nilanjana Bose said:
Hello, and a very happy Saturday to you. Loved the post and the prompt and Aubade is really one of my favouritest poems. Thanks!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Nilanjana…Larkin is SO SO good…so dry…so beautifully sad….I love his poems. Im glad you liked the prompt!
hedgewitch said:
It’s not often I can write extemporaneously to a prompt Stu, but this one had me tapping the keys. Excellent excellent challenge to the brain cells—-back later to do some reading.
poemsofhateandhope said:
hedgy hedge! im glad i got those fingers pumping!! thanks for teaching me a new word too!! extemporaneously….THAT is a beaut
brian miller said:
i freed your comments from exile too stu…weird…wonder why it did that…anyway you should be live again…smiles.
poemsofhateandhope said:
weird!! gremlins at work for sure…thanks bri
John (@bookdreamer) said:
Interesting theme. I have gone for a poem, which may tell a story that involves not facing a fear, or how it may start… I have used a traditional Irish form as well
brian miller said:
alright, caught the first 20….off to dinner and to play a bit…be back to catch the rest….
poemsofhateandhope said:
yum….whats on the menu!!!
brian miller said:
shepherds pie tonight….yum indeed…one of my favs….
poemsofhateandhope said:
me too…its ok for me to have shepherds pie for breakfast right?
Myrna said:
I think it’s easy to have a spider phobia. Had one myself, but I’m mostly over it. Still, I can def relate. Thanks for this great topic today.
Hope your weekend is going well.
poemsofhateandhope said:
ughhh…spiders…lapdogs of satan FACT
Daydreamertoo said:
Great read and, prompt Stu… So many things to be fearful of.. even life can be one of them….haha
poemsofhateandhope said:
Life? DEFINITELY! that’s one of the scariest things of all!!!
Other Mary said:
Hey I’m back! Great prompt for this time of year especially! Thanks!
d smith kaich jones said:
you have perfect timing. i’ve left a true story, a bit of a poem i began on thursday after the the fact.
poemsofhateandhope said:
sounds intriguing! cant wait to read!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey there! i was reading your poem…it was GREAT…but then it disappeared?? did something go wrong? i DO have some gremlins following me tonight!
myrthryn said:
Great prompt. I’m sure there will be some goosebumps tonight! !
poemsofhateandhope said:
wow myrthryn- your poem was a toughie! you’re not wrong about the goosebumps!
myrthryn said:
Based off a true story locally.. very sad.
charlesmashburn said:
I don’t know if my post quite fits what Stu had in mind, but there was fear.
poemsofhateandhope said:
oh charles it absolutely does…well done sir
festivalking said:
Thanks for the challenge Stuart! I finally got to dispossess myself of my story about my phobia… a pretty odd one though ***wide grin***
Cheers!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey there!…sounds intriguing! looking forward to reading! some phobias are odd though….i know someone who is actually afraid of tinned beans…..crazy
brian miller said:
haha…seems i came back at the right time….smiles…be right over…
poemsofhateandhope said:
he he he- festival king….your poem was the shiiii……:)
festivalking said:
just seeing this!… lmao!!!! 😀
poemsofhateandhope said:
🙂 🙂 🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
right then y’all! off to get some sleep….30 poems….good start! keep em coming!
brian miller said:
rest well man…great job tonight…
Sherry Blue Sky said:
Loved your post so much – it amazes me that your phobia isnt being wrapped so tightly in blankets you cant move – that would totally freak me out! Intriguing prompt. I may be back 🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Sherry! good point? I am a bit claustrophobic…i have this reoccurring dream about being trapped underground…..maybe it stems from that…blimey- I’d be a therapists dream :)…..please do come back and i look forward to readng!
ManicDdaily said:
Hi Stu, I thought this was just a great challenge and great prompt. My only problem – too many things come to mind – I feel like almost everything I write is motivated by fear, and I’ve had such a tiring week, there was a big temptation to use something old–or even link up last week’s englyn which was about dying, so kind of a big fear – but somehow didn’t want to be quite that serious still – –
Anyway- it’s shown me a good prompt if I’m ever stumped – I’m not sure I chose the best of the threads that came to mind, but did one at least.
Thanks. k.
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Karin!…..tbh- i think a lot of art, whether t be writing, poetry, painting- whatever- is driven by our fears…and by creating, we attempt to deal with it, maybe try and process it, understand it….im glad you liked the prompt and im heading over shortly to read!
ManicDdaily said:
Your poem wonderful. k.
Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly) said:
Fears…oh my I have some. I decided to write about one of my biggest that I faced and overcame. Thanks for the prompt!
brian miller said:
great job facing your fears susie…there is def freedom to be found when we do…
poemsofhateandhope said:
hey Susie…im heading over to read shortly…..this sounds very encouraging though….to overcome a fear….maybe the most empowering feeling we can ever feel!
claudia said:
hey…just arrived here in my hotel in california….looooong trip…started today in the morning 9am german time…now it’s 4:26am german time…ugh…if you could see me you would be scared at how i look…smiles…all’s well so far…safe flight, had a nice lady from LA sitting next to me, watched two very good movies…the girl with the pearl earring and safe with jason statham..need a shower now and will shortly be out on the trail…need to adjust to the time here, so won’t go to bed too early…ha
brian miller said:
smiles….glad you checked in here…and arrived safe…oy hope the adjustment to the time does not go too rough on you…
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hope you have a god trip Claudia! Germany to Cali…thats gotta be 12 hrs in the air….ouch…..ive been on the wrong side of that jet lag before!….hope it goes smoothly!!
dani said:
wonderful prompt! i’ll be back to visit after dinner!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hi Dani! Great to see you and look forward to reading!
claudia said:
ok…bedtime for me…was awake now for 25 hours and about to crash…in case i left strange comments on your posts, you know why…smiles
dulcinaandgnome said:
Some “lovely” creatures similar to spiders, yes, flies is my phobia.
Thanks for the prompt and have a nice and safe day.
🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
A phobia of flies!…interesting…id love t know where that one came from!…heading over to read shortly so im sure ill find the answers!
PoetJanstie said:
It’s a great prompt and, despite its morbid tone, Larkins ability to capture his fear of death – fear if death for goodness sake! – is just amazing! In spite of fact I didn’t think I had any phobias, Larkin has almost succeeded in creating one for me! That’s how good ‘Audabe’ really is!
So maybe I should write one that reflects my fear of phobias <:-|
Stuart McPherson- Poet & Artist said:
Hey John….great to see you. For me Larkin is one of the British greats…his tone, as you rightly point out in this poem, is morbid, but tremendously well observed, as with many of his other poems, and captures something almost intangible, that ‘feeling’ we get when dweling on this subject…..he was a real character…..heading over to read your post asap! will it be a poem about your phobia of phobias? 🙂
Sheila said:
Great job, Stuart. This response flowed out faster than I expected. Felt good! Will do some reading in the am. Until then, goodnight from my side of the globe. 🙂
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Sheila! love it when that happens….i sometimes describe writing poetry like having a headache….my head hurts and then something breaks and it kind of just pours out of my brain! ha ha…looking forward to reading!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Well i never!…woken up to 42 poems!! brilliant…gonna work my way through shortly….the wifes making me go out to the shops to look at cushions and stuff (great)…so ill be a little delayed but ill get there! keep em coming!
David King said:
The ultimate subject, so I guess the ultimate prompt.
brian miller said:
good morning poets….great crop of overnights…..on my way around now to see what you got….
Lydia said:
Good night poets…..I just read Brian’s and that’s it until I get sleep. Have a good morning/afternoon and I will read up in the evening.
brian miller said:
smiles….hope you slept well…and always great to see you lydia…
Sabio Lantz said:
Darn, too late to offer this resource for poets who love to play with words:
A huge list of phobia words.
brian miller said:
ooo very cool…will check it out…i always love finding new resources….
poemsofhateandhope said:
Right then! i am back on the trail! sheeeesh that was a long shopping trip!!
Lydia said:
Ooh, Stu, I do not like facing my fear(s). So thank you for making me do so!
claudia said:
good morning…watching the californian sunrise….sigh…need to get some breakfast and will be out on the trail soon…just don’t ask me about my night…ugh..
poemsofhateandhope said:
Feeling your pain Claudia- feeling your pain!
claudia said:
ah you can relate.. i know…time shifts are terrible…ugh…
Ginny Brannan said:
Although I share a few common phobias–acrophobia (fear of heights) and arachnophobia (fear of spiders) to name two, my biggest fear is much more personal. Thanks for the prompt, Stu! How I love writing, it’s such a great catharsis for the soul!
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Ginny- great to see you…i agree…poetry is catharsis is healing!
Martin Shone said:
Well that got me writing in rhyme, something I don’t normally do.
hobgoblin2011 said:
Great choice for Poetic Stu. Fear is always an engaging topic. Been preoccupied, but have free time later this evening, so can’t wait to see what everyone fears. Thanks
poemsofhateandhope said:
Hey Poets!- i am back (after a hety shopping trip ughhhh) hitting the trail right now!
claudia said:
haha…shopping can be fun and can be horror…smiles
Behind The Smile said:
Sorry Im rather late in linking up but have done so now. Loved the poem used as an example.
Susan said:
Stuart, your prompt led me to begin several poems over the last 2 days and this is the one I finished. The others will come too but they felt small next to this one, and the walk I included that I didn’t even try to develop.
brian miller said:
just getting in myself from the Railway Festival….watched the local fireman challenge where all the squads compete….was really cool actually…anyway on my way around to visit the last 6 or so…
claudia said:
wow…fireman challenge sounds awesome..
brian miller said:
was really cool…about 8 of the local units all competing in different test of skill….was very neat…we have been a few times now…my grandpa was a fireman as well so i got great respect for them…
poemsofhateandhope said:
well my poet friends!- some awesome AWESOME poems penned…ill be checking in the am for any last minuters!
claudia said:
ok…back on the trail as well…i picked up my rental car today, then drove to the beach and spent the day there…sunshine…sea breeze…soft sand…wonderful…
brian miller said:
nice…..love the beach…its got great rhythm…smiles.
Shawn said:
This one required some thought of heart.
Zellie M. Quinn said:
Honestly, I liked your writing better than Philip Larkins writing! Thanks for the chuckles!
Poetry & Icecream said:
I love this topic but unfortunately missed out on linking my poem. Here is it if anyone is interested. Will catch up reading the rest of your poems soon.