Feardom

Some have learned what Fear is

...though not the fear of...

For some

Death

vies for attention

while defiance

lifts an appropriate finger thus

Such persons

young once

experience Fear

while seeking parental attention

met head on by

Impatience

Hubris

Ignorance

...though not the fear of...

Later

Fear barks louder

Exam failure

Innocence lost

Business reversal

Marriage dissolution

Family ostracism

...though still not fear of...

Still later

Some learn

The ancient maxim

that real Fear is

Not experiencing Fear at all

Glide-pattern awareness

That becomes

That inexorable ghost

Of yourself that might have been

...though not the fear of...

Feardom