Vice Versa
Fear of war, of emptiness, of the mirror,
of the hatred of men, of tedium,
of the habit of having nightmares and no dreams.
Fear of helplessness, of cold,
of the gag, of incessant waiting,
of a knife of silence.
Fear of the fierce force of words,
of the runaway horse fleeing,
of the drop that falls inconsolable.
Fear of the hours when they whet their appetites,
of the loved blood, of the passionless embrace,
of a morning that does not wait for the afternoon.
Fear of not being, of being absent,
of misunderstandings, of a dull soul,
of the mediocrity of suffering.
Fear of him or her who runs away from a kiss
as of a stray bullet.
Fear of fear.
Never fear of love,
of love never, and vice versa.