fear is the mind-killer
parading around like grief
telling you it’s going to hurt
thwarting your hope
messing with memories
twisting them
to some version of the future
that you won’t dare walk towards
fear is the mind-killer
playing tricks with your eyes
causing you to see a future
that is not real
plausible, yes
possible, of course
but still—not real, not now.
you cannot prepare for pain,
not with dress rehearsals, anyways
well, schools do disaster drills
earthquake, lockdown, fire
so, i suppose you can
make your battle plan
but fear’s preparation
is a lot less like a battle plan
and far more a retreat,
screaming:
prepare, avoid,
run.
delay, turn away,
run.
silence
sand
wind.
And I can’t help but think
of the storm that is next year
the storm that is even now
how I’d desperately like
to fly my helicopter
nice and straight
but
it’s just not
possible.
because some winds
are not thwarting Your plans
but propelling me
closer
to
them.
“Fear is the mind-killer” quote from Dune (2021)
December 2021 // Tauranga, New Zealand
