FEAR
I KNOW where lurk
The eyes of Fear;
I, I alone,
Where shadowy-clear,
Watching for me,
Lurks Fear.
’Tis ever still
And dark, despite
All singing and
All candlelight,
'Tis ever cold,
And night.
He touches me;
Says quietly,
"Stir not, nor whisper,
I am nigh;
Walk noiseless on,
I am by!"
He drives me
As a dog a sheep;
Like a cold stone
I cannot weep.
He lifts me
Hot from sleep
In marble hands
To where on high
The jewelled horror
Of his eye
Dares me to struggle
Or cry.
No breast wherein
To chase away
That watchful shape!
Vain, vain to say
"Haunt not with night
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1927.
The author died in 1956, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 60 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.