32. Fear

Whom do I fear?
The Lord, the One?
Not true!
I am
My Father's son.

What do I fear?
My ignorance vast —
The sleepless spear,
The eyeless dust.

Why do I fear?
Because my eyes
See not the smile
Of the golden skies.

And what is fear?
A tempting call
From the bondage-sphere
Of an airtight ball.

And where is fear?
It is everywhere,
Death's atmosphere,
Shameless and bare.
Sri Chinmoy, My Flute, Sri Chinmoy Lighthouse, New York, 1972