Fear 
 
is a vulture 
that hangs on the heart 
of the bravest soul 
 
Waiting to sink 
 
long greedy talons 
into blood red flesh 
and render it 
 
Lifeless. 
 
 
(Previously published in Transcendant Visions, Fall '99)
Laurence Overmire
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fear-164/