I don't find anything special about fear as an emotion in poetry. A poem
might be written out of fear, it might be about some aspect of fear, or
it might frighten the reader. A poem might use metaphor better to
explain, or come to terms with, or convey fear. But none of this is
special to fear. You could say the same of poetry and anxiety, or
happiness or lust or grief or many more emotions.
What I immediately associate with the combination 'poetry' and 'fear' is
to do with the act of writing. Or not being able to. I'm continually
afraid of not being able to write, of perhaps never writing anything any
good again. If I've recently written something I think good, then I'm
afraid I won't be able to do anything as good again. If I've not written
anything good for a while, then I'm afraid I've lost the ability.
I'm not sure why this fear should affect me regarding my ability to
write poetry, rather than any other capability I might possess. Perhaps
it's partly because of the uncertainty of success in writing on any
occasion. If I can ride a bicycle, I can ride it any time I want to. If
I can write, then I might be able to write well today and not tomorrow.
I know I'm not alone in being nagged by this fear. It's something of a
cold comfort to know that other poets are also afraid of not being able
to write.
--
Peter
http://www.hphoward.demon.co.uk/poetry/
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