A Poem About Fear

If Only

The sea calls to me
If I could only hear it
Over the crashing waves
If I could only see it
Through the sun's blinding rays
If I could only smell it
Beyond a trawler's catch
If I could only feel it
And not be so detached
If only I could just let go
Of ifs that stand in my way
I would see the sparkling water
As sunlight paints the bay


Eyes protected,
Skin sunblocked
Giving freedom to my senses
Would be too much of a shock
If only I could feel the waves
Ebbing beneath my feet
And remove the fear of sunstroke
In the summer heat
And remove the fear of undertows
And jellyfish stings
Red tides, pollution
And other such things


And dip my toes
Into the unending sea
Knowing that nothing
Would happen to me
If only I could just let go
Of fear deep down inside
I would jump into the ocean
And be carried by the tide
As playful as a dolphin
Leaping through the waves
Living unrehearsed
If only I could be that brave

- Aerwyna