Claire's Corner: Eat the Fear

Poetry from Claire Sylvan’s book, Turnings

Eat the Fear

Eat every blessed moment.
Gnaw the edges of the tough ones,
Spit out the woody fibre
That will not break you down.

Open wide, take in
Every ever-loving juicy thing,
And chew it till it drips
All down your steadfast chin.

Let every cell of your bewildered hungry soul
Open, seek the nourishment that lurks
In all the usual and surprising edges.

Feed yourself with crashing waves,
Rhythmic, dependable,
Swallow huge chunks of storms, whipping wind,
Drum of rain, howl of winter’s fury.

Savour dry and raspy leaves, deep fissured bark,
Clouds at midnight opening to a brilliant star,
The sun once again rising, a breakfast specialty.
Drink deep the nectar of this very day, this moment.

Chew, and chew again, tasting
Your own amazing creations,
The touch of your beloved,
The soft flow of an infant’s breath.

And the rich deep humus on the forest floor,
Ah, the smell:
That forest after rain, eat that, and the rain too.
Put your face to the wind, let it rattle
Every last morsel of fear
that dares remain. Eat that fear too.

There is no dark or brilliant place
Your courage cannot take you.

About Claire Sylvan

Born within earshot of the Atlantic, on the rugged westernmost coast of Cornwall, England, Claire has a deep affinity for rocks, water, and sacred places on earth.

Claire has lived, worked, and raised a family in Haliburton County amidst good kind friends for 35 years and 8 years in friendly Almonte. She and her partner, Bev, are known as "the Grannies" to an ever increasing population of wondrous children.