Invisible Fear Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Tense and stressed, finding intuitively that something is
not quite right here where we're staying, going outside,
everything is fine, no feelings either way.

Yet when we first came here I sat down by the door, feel-
ing an apprehension that I couldn't quite explain, sitting
there for almost an hour not wanting to go upstairs at all.

Finally trying to face whatever it was that I was feeling,
went upstairs and put things away in the closet and bath-
room.

Afterwards, unable to stay there any more even after open-
ing all the windows to let some fresh air inside, it didn't
work so I went back outside to be with nature.

Walking one way then another down pathways, being one with
nature, then swinging on a huge swing, taking pictures and
talking with my friend and his son.

Staying outside as much as possible, wanting to avoid going
inside or upstairs, to the bedroom they had decided would
be where I would sleep.

Explaining how I felt didn't matter, just wanting me to go
to sleep, a simple solution, but not easy for me to follow,
because of the apprehension I felt when inside.

So here I sit, writing poetry, staying awake, not sleeping,
trying to stave off this feeling of an invisible fear that
has grasped me somehow, while everyone else is sleeping.