In my life I’ve known Courage.

We met when I was two:

I had to start walking – my mom and dad were trying to hold and guide me

But I just kept falling down.

Then I met Courage

And it made me stand right back up.

Nowadays, Courage hides under bridges and in ceiling cracks and shadows;

It takes a while to find,

But when you do, it will embrace you warmly.

 

In my life I’ve known Fear.

We met when I was four:

When I thought there were monsters under my bed.

Big

Scary

Monsters.

These days, Fear is knocking at my door.

Fear finds me when I think of a bad memory,

When I’m at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

 

I’ve learned that Courage and Fear are different.

When Courage tells me to keep moving forward,

Fear says there might be dangerous things out there.

Fear’s voice is shaky, afraid of his own shadow.

Courage’s voice is powerful – her voice is strong enough to defy the Universe.

Usually I listen to Courage,

And wish that Courage and Fear could get along,

Not fight over who I will choose.

I wish that Courage and Fear would just shut up,

So that I can think for myself.

Find my own path,

Afraid or not afraid.

I will go anyways.

---

This poem is published in The World in Me, a compilation of original poetry written by young people ages 8 – 17 who stayed with their families in housing at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing for women and children. The young authors who contributed to The World in Me are not identified by their real names, and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of them and their families. The authors retain copyrights on their individual works.

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