be NOT afraid

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real
tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.  —Plato
 
be not afraid to learn
for wisdom guides the pathways of the ageless
open your heart and yearn
lest indolence and pride should leave you wageless
 
be not afraid to speak
your fervent truths, though all the world be shaken
if verity makes weak
your slumber, mute from death you shall not waken
 
be not afraid to list
to voices e’en less eloquent than silence
which, by a keen ear kissed,
may symphonies make of discordant sirens
 
be not afraid to smile
contagion may lend legion wings to laughter
where life has been hostile
to lost souls seeking levity hereafter
 
be not afraid to cry
tears are the gilead that heals a nation
if sorrows multiply
their salty sea’s baptism may yield fair ration
 
be not afraid to die
though stark before you loom the open grave
stand up and occupy
and if need be, go down like other brave
 
men not afraid to live
to change the world, though martyrs in the end
that those who still survive
may boldly life’s grim obstacles transcend
 
© Copyright 2020 August 03
by Clyve A. Bowen♫