A boundary of fear encompasses my life,
protects my trembling heart and shaking hands
from reaching out to you for reassurance.
Familiar terrors comfort and protect me
from the urgent need to change, to grow.
Within that searing ring embraced,
I rest secure and safe, static and unchanging,
until sheer time would crumble and decay
what life, love, pleasure, joy, and laughter
may not erode or intrude unkindly on.
Note: At one time there was a low volume mailing list, owned by Loretta Kemsley, for
Women Artists and Writers International. I believe that I wrote this poem in response to a
writing prompt that was published to the list.