A slice of fear took its place in my heart,

Like a seedling that nobody should nurture.

I watered it in spite of myself

And silently did it develop branches —

Unknown to myself did it spread its domain

All over my heart, tightening its clasp.

I woke up in the middle of every night,

Trying to make the now grown tree disappear

Or perhaps to make it shrink back to a seedling.

But my thoughts watered it.

My mind kept its leaves green —

Such a stubborn tree, the tree of fears.