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 When You Feel Afraid

 
When i feel afraid
i become a hare at dusk
small and white and soft
exploring the fields of life
learning to bolt, turn corners
escaping fitful deadly dangers
quickly recognizing helpers
i nuzzle and restore
 
When you feel afraid
i become an owl at sunset
sailing silently through oaks
scanning cool air and ground
speedily i carry medicine to those
in silenced need of swift miracles
calmly sensing their despair
i gather and embrace


When i feel afraid
i become a little girl at midnight
tracing paw prints with my fingers
counting stars as close friends of mine
feeling insanely safe amidst explosions
with invisible fierce feet i run and run
abruptly stop, rendered helpless
i remember and snuggle
 
When you feel afraid
i become a raindrop before dawn
letting myself fall and fall and fall
along the way touching in with clouds
breeze and branches, multiplied by sunrise
gently i land on fragrant quince tree blossoms
and on your cheek, languidly evaporating
i nestle, soothe and savor
 

When i feel afraid
i become luminance at fall of night
growing my golden moonlight belly
lullabies seeping from baby bones
tasting the world anew, again, again
i embrace my dark moist destiny
waiting patiently for daytime
i smell trust and linger
 
When you feel afraid
i open my wings past midnight
serenely gliding with velvet
feathers, sharp beak, talons
my big eyes invite scarce light
in darkness i can see and know
dedicated to the wounded
i comfort, cuddle, huddle
 

Whenever fear is gripping me
i become a small white hare
like in that book i’m reading
before sleep is snatching me
to foreign lands i learn to respect
ardently engaging, pushing limits
cherishing my anguish ­– i dedicate
to simply… Leben Lieben Seele
 
with sunrise the audacious nightly beauty
is not willing to disappear, so many musky
mysteries, messages, morsels of truth
so much shape shifting, forever
from tears to sunrays to fleeting
or steady fears
 
many are starving, not safe
so much to be shared
with gentle caring
doucement

Karina Epperlein, April/May 2025
 

“Leben, Lieben, Seele” translates from German as: life/living, love/loving, soul
"doucement" translates from French as: gently, tenderly


Comments

Fern said…
“Leben, Lieben, Seele” What a beautiful perfect phrase. What lush, rich and profound poetry. Again my gratitude for these words filled with nature and comfort.
May 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Ken said…
I love this beautifully structured poem, its images from dreams and waking life, its deep empathy for all. The accompanying photographs are exquisite. Thank you so much, Karina.
May 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Alex K said…
Yes I’ve been reading it over for the past several days. It’s beautiful though not sure if I understand it. I experience it like a lullaby. Also startling for I freeze in fear and your poem describes a journey an adventure
May 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Aysha said…
Every day now, new reminders of how precious, how necessary it is to nuzzle and to feel safe. Recently I bought a condo – logistically it all happened very quickly, although this decision has been growing in me for years – it is an added layer of stability now in unstable times, for me and anyone close to me. Yet as I move into my new home, suddenly I am without the comfort that I had cultivated in my old space – I feel alone, afraid; the migraines are back, my car breaks down, my boundaries with men are weak. I so needed your encouragement to nuzzle and restore – medicine! Like the hare, I am cozying up in the armchair on this new porch, or singing myself into harmony with these walls, making a nest where I can rest deeply… before going out like the owl…
May 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Karina said…
Courtney writes:

I love your poem, Karina. And you know I’ve historically had a hard time with poetry. This really landed and is much appreciated, especially now as I do feel afraid, including in feeling the fear of others and imagining the anguish of those who are really suffering now. Thank you.
May 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Karina said…
Kathryn writes:

Your poem is wonderful, so evocative and comforting. I love the shapeshifting aspect of it, and the pairing with close-ups of raindrops on flowers. Definitely a reminder of how we can seek refuge in nature, and for me, particularly at night - when my fears, real or imagined, seem to have more weight.
May 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Fern said…
Antonie writes:

You are so beautiful. You let us into your life. It is just incredible. Thanks for your generosity. You are showing us how to embrace the world and nature. You embrace your life. You let us have this poem into our lives, so we can feel like we are participating.  And the photos!!! the photos!!!
May 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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