Apologies to Dylan Thomas:

Let me go gently
As I walk through this life,
Adding no harshness,
Bringing no strife;
When fear walks in boldly,
Disguised as my friend,
Carrying anger
As it tries to pretend
That it came to protect me,
That I need to strike out,
Then, let me strike fear instead,
Turn it about,
And catch it off guard
With a warm, gentle smile,
Replacing its gloom
With the hope of a child.
Edie Batstone