Fear of the Unknown
-The fear of the unknown, is by far the greatest of all fears…
Fear of the Unknown
When memory serves then I’ll tell of this tale
Dark besprent nights, with their thunderous gales
Twas a lass and a laddie, out too long did they roam
At the dawning of knowing, did they scamper to home
The single pathway for walking, many hours disused
With but two options vested, and neither fair choose
Step the stones on the edge, or pass through the wood
With no moon overhead, paused a moment they stood
Each minute did tick, as they did ponder their plight
How their joy was consumed, commended to night
That happiness since drained, left them feeling forlorn
Branches then knelt, like times one would mourn
Through the wood, distance rapid, village to quicker
But the cobbles gave vision, on the chance of a picker
The lad chose the forest, but his lass did protest
With the snags and the pitfalls, and with her in a dress
Speed of the essence, for the darkness grew deeper
With haste expeditious, hope to outpace the Reaper
Briskly, then quicker, did the two youngsters’ travel
Yet deep in their thoughts hung the slam of the gavel
With its twisting and turning, led the way to a valley
When settled-in mist slowed their chance of a rally
Eyes grew less sighted, and stones lost their mark
Clouds made an entrance, and the moment grew stark
Tumultuous rumbling above, broke the still of the night
Their meandering causeway held a moment in light
Shadows collided, eyes a fast focused scan
On the moors something solid, in the shape of a man
In petrified motion, the two reached for the other
A moment of happening, in this juncture discovered
Marooned and abandoned, with fears now in sight
They sprinted then aimless, being driven by fright
Such the laddie did stumble, and the lass fell behind
With a crosswind now blowing, the pathway declined
Careening and toppling, drawing wounds as they did
All footing was missing, and down further they slid
With splash came cessation, the depths of the hollow
A forgotten refuge, where the frigid night followed
Struggled and flailing, both did come soon unsloped
Companion of misery, time was not as they’d hoped
This hollow a cistern, every edge had high walls
And alone as they were, not a soul close to call
So came the dawning, that the figure they’d viewed
His distance was minor, and they might be pursued
Yet heavy her skirts, and with that lost her strength
The lass started calling, found her moment of length
And the lad saw her panic, and with not else to do
Joined in the trumpet, for hopes they’ve break through
Yet seconds then minutes, and the chill gathered deep
With their fortitude failing, she surrendered to weep
Numbness grew fonder and then heavy of limbs
Fear claimed the field, and their will lost to swim
The laddie slipped under, and the lass soon behind
In the end it was terror, only thoughts on their minds
When sunlight came calling, beds found unturned
The searching came rapid, every soul was concerned
Through wood and the meadows, knocking on doors
Earnest traversing on the paths through the moors
Fresh opened soil, wrote the tale of their flight
At the watery grave, bowed their heads to their plight
They were running in fear, but none offered a case
As the lands quite secure, not a haunting took place
Never beast, not a single, did take rise or pursue
Cobbles secure and the road marked and true
Yet something did frighten, a bewildering drive
Drove a misstep, one which captured their lives
So tragically lost, those words etched on stones
Their panicky flight, deemed fear of the unknown
Spent my hours traversing, always gathering light
My story beginning, on a dark stormy night
And their plight I have written, such a difficult pill
Near my cornfield and scarecrow, across yonder hill
About the Author
R.J. Schwartz is an American poet, having previously published, Poetry of the Human Condition: The Ups and Downs of Modern Living
The Lover’s Thread, Poetry for Couples, and contributed to The Creative Exiles an anthology of poems: Let the Words Speak
He also recently published a Science-Fiction novel, which he co-wrote with his son, called The Secrets of the Moon
His newest book, Things That Go Bump in the Night, Poetry of Fear and Fright, will be released in April, 2023.
- The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - May 11, 2026
- The Spring Collection - May 8, 2026
- Faces Without Names - May 6, 2026
Sad their plight indeed. Great work and well presented.