The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
AL,
I love how you are able to have such a powerful meaning in such a short poem. I think it’s a really interesting idea and mindset—that fear can either be an enemy or we can use our fear to rise up. We never know what the future will hold, so we should focus on today. I’m definitely going to start changing my mindset to this, so thank you for sharing your wisdom!
-Cameron
Dear AL,
Your poem is short but still so profound and meaningful in its message. It is wonderful to acknowledge and embrace fear and uncertainty, because not knowing the future is what gives us hope for positive change. This is beautiful and I wish you all the best for your tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Joyce
Al, this is a very powerful poem. I really appreciate the comforting lyrics about not letting fear dictate your life. Thanks for sharing!
I love how simple, yet powerful this poem is. The thought behind each word is apparent. I also love the hopeful outlook for the future.
This poem was very unique and I liked how it related fear to something that is unknown, and how life can be very unexpected!
Dear AL,
Thank you for sharing this poem. I really liked how wise and simple it is. Right now is a very uncertain time for many, yet the message of being okay with fear and uncertainty is really powerful. Thank you for crafting and sharing an inspirational message.
Best,
Joseph
Hi AL!
I really like how your poem felt so deep and filled with meaning in 4 short lines. I found myself stopping to think and really taking in each individual sentence. I was especially drawn to the way in which the first two lines and the last two lines were coupled. For example, the first and second line have a strong juxtaposition with the words yesterday, today, enemy and companion. Overall I loved how such a short poem had such a strong message!
This poem was short but deep. There was a very good opening to the poem and a very good closing as well. All in all, I think you did a very good job writing it! Keep up the good work!
AL,
This poem reminds me of the song Yesterday by The Beatles. I enjoy how it’s short and gets too the point, while remaining impactful and having depth. I definitely think this is the type of poem that could be built onto because it has a lot of potential to have addition, or perhaps there could be more poems that relate almost like a story. It leaves me wanting more from you!
This is excellent! Leave the things that’s in the past in the past, and look forward to the blessings that are to come in the future.
AL, thank you for sharing this poem. Fear is something that everyone faces, and I really like how you use fear to empower you instead of letting it hold you back. You talk about how the future can be a very scary thing, but by just taking it one day at a time and not stressing to much about what you cannot control, you will get through it.
I loved the raw emotion that shined through in this short, but impactful poem. It tells the story of accepting fear and the unknown of the future- as everyone must do as human beings. Amazing poem, I loved it!
I like how simple but effective your poem is. I think this has a good outlook on life and I hope you continue on this positive path!
AL,
I really loved the vulnerability of this poem. I sensed a hint of tension in not knowing what the future brings that makes this poem so powerful! Thank you for sharing this with us.
I really like this poem! It’s short, but really gets to the point. Great job!
AL,
Thank you for taking the time to write this! I know for me learning to live with fear and uncertainty has been one of the hardest lessons to learn. However, this uncertainty can foster hope and faith. Keep writing!
KC
Hey AL! This is a really thought provoking poem and I love it!!! With it only being 4 lines and shorter, it allows me to think deeper into what the message is you are trying to convey. Your poem is so true though and I can resonate with it because fear can make or break you whether it is used as motivation or it controls your every move to where you seem paralyzed in fear it can change constantly. Good poem and keep up the good work!
Hi AL,
I really really like this poem. You packed such a powerful idea into just four short lines. It’s so interesting to think about fear as an enemy, a companion, and…what comes next? Does fear become a friend? Does fear disappear altogether? I’m curious to find out and I’m also a little…fearful.
Although the ending is mysterious and inconclusive, I also feel a sense of hope when I read your poem. I see a progression from a life in constant battle with fear, to a life in which fear is present but not harmful. That is such a cool idea to me—that fear is normal and we shouldn’t be afraid of it. Should we even start embracing fear? I think being in situations in which we are scared can help us learn more about ourselves and become stronger as humans. Sometimes I feel scared about the future, but I like how your poem reminds me to take life day by day and not attempt to predict what’s going to happen next, but to remain open and courageous in all situations.
Thanks for sharing your work. It’s given me a lot to think about and I’ll probably keep thinking about it for a while.
Very well said – fear can definitely be everyone’s greatest enemy and we need not live in fear of the future, but like you said wait for tomorrow and see what we can find!
Dear AL,
Your poem really stood out to me. Reading it was an intense experience, because I feel like you said so much in just a few lines. As soon as I was done reading it I went back to read it again, and then again. The first two lines are really memorable, what an image, fear transformed from an enemy to a companion!
I’m intrigued by what you wrote and I really hope you will write more and share it.
AL,
I love this poem. In four lines, you were able to convey such a beautiful and important perspective. I struggle with worrying too much about everything, including what the future holds, so it was so nice to read this. I love the idea of fear as a companion! It makes me picture it as something not inherently scary, but instead something neutral that just walks beside me. And then you remind us that we cannot possibly predict what will happen, so we just should wait and see, which again, puts a positive and exciting spin on the unknown. Thanks for helping reframe my mind!
Best,
Maya
P.S. I also pictured this as a quote at the beginning of an epic fantasy novel!
I like that this little poem says so much in so few words. It made me think about the difference between fear as an enemy or as a companion — and what the other options might be. Thanks for sharing your writing.
Hi AL,
Thank you so much for sharing your poem. The message really resonated with me, especially in a year when there has been so much uncertainty and fear about the world and the issues we are facing right now. I too used to despise fear and uncertainty, but am working on taking it in stride and learning to embrace what is coming and not fear what I cannot control or know. It was so great to read a poem that put this experience into words so well. While reading it I felt understood and reenergized to face the many fears and uncertainties we are facing right now. I hope to read more of your poems!
Sincerely,
Megan
Hi AL,
Thank you for sharing your poem! Although short and simple, it has a much deeper meaning and relates very well to this year which has been unpredictable and scary for many. I love the word choice, it is effective and gets the important message across. I really enjoyed the comparison of fear between enemies and companions; it is very accurate for many people. Good job!
-Ziniya
Hi AL,
I really love how powerful, yet short and simple your poem was. It tells a quick story about you overcoming the fear that is inside of you and how you are embracing it. A lot of the time people struggle with overcoming a fear that haunts them and it is hard to embrace it and move on to the next day, but you are showing that it is possible to overcome it. It is an inspiring poem and I think a lot of people could benefit from this message including me. Unfortunately, fear has caused me to avoid things I should have done, but finding the power to get over the fear could have allowed me to do so many more things.
AL
I love how simple, yet powerful, your poem is. A lot of people can relate to the central theme of your poem, which is that fear can be someone’s greatest enemy and can hold them back. Everyone hopes to develop the courage to make fear their companion and not to let it keep them from following their dreams. I hope that you continuing writing and conveying these deep thoughts and ideas in your poems!
Best wishes,
Jordan
I like how you correlated fear with future yet on the day of, fear can be your closest friend when least expected. It goes to show the power you hold in how you translate fear and use it to either hold you back or push you forward. This parallel is so important and you did it such a simple yet meaningful way. This is great!!
Hey AL,
Your poem here is short yet packed with a lot of deep meaning. After reading I now look at fear being a sort of mysterious present that we possess, that inevitably may bring the good or bad of tomorrow. Awesome writing!
I am beyond amazed at how this four lined poem could bring the impact of an entire essay. It spoke to me as I recall being this person who lived in fear, that is now learning how to face it in the present, and then not fretting so much about it for the future because like you said it is for tomorrow. This really acknowledges that fear is something we all face but how we do so differentiates us.
AL, I really enjoyed reading this because although it was short your poem showed a deep meaning to it. We do not know what the future holds for us and it is scary to think of it. I feel like your poem truly portrays the meaning of living in the moment and being present. Amazing poem!
AL, thank you for sharing your poem! Despite being short it was able to paint such a vivid image of the fear of the unknown and instead using it as a power. The shift from fear to companion was incredibly well written and I find myself reflecting on my own thoughts after it as well. My question for you is what as your inspiration behind the poem? How would you follow up on this? Thank you!
I love the ominous tone you set for this poem. In such a few amount of lines, you perfectly portrayed such powerful emotions (fear and uncertainty). I think it’s interesting to see that, despite the negativity of fear and uncertainty, there seems to be a bit of curiosity and hope in a way in the last line; because you still are looking forward to another day despite its uncertainty.
Dear AL,
What an amazing talent to convey so much emotion in only a few lines. In my own life I have tried to rid myself of fears and anxieties when in reality it is tied to our overall being. To walk as a companion and learn respect and admiration for what the fears show is crucial. I love how shifting the frame from an enemy to an equal allows one to see the world in a different light. I hold this poem close knowing how it can make such an impact on my life and many around me. Continue your gift of writing. You will change the world by your words.
Best,
M
Your poem is so powerful and effective. This idea of viewing fear as a stepping stool instead of what is holding as back is a very empowering mindset. Thank you for your impactful poem. I also love how you combine the past, present, and future to show that we are always becoming more and that we are always changing while the world keeps with us. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Dear AL,
Thank you for sharing this poem. I find it incredible how thought-provoking your work is in just four short lines. I hope you continue writing, and I hope you are doing well.
Best wishes,
– Joe
Hi! This is a great poem, short but powerful and meaningful! Fear consumes us as humans at times, but we always overcome it. The message you sent in this poem is powerful for all readers and reminds us not to let our fear consume us. Fear also has the ability to impact us in a positive way because it can help us push forward and persevere. Thank you for sharing this poem and strong message. I hope you continue to share poems!
AL,
What a powerful and meaningful poem this was to read. I love that you have portray fear as not only an enemy but a companion as well. I had never stopped to think of how fear can actually be a companion as well. This was such a thought provoking poem for me. It helps to remind me to be and live in the moment and not be fearful of the unknown. This has been something that I have been working hard to do. Thank you so much for sharing your powerful words. Best wishes.
-T.T.
This work is so short yet so dramatic and inspiring. It truly gets you thinking about the different faces of fear.
Hey AL, I love this poem you wrote! Although it was short, it was so powerful! You said so much, but so little at the same time. I feel like this poem can relate to a lot of people right now and I am glad you have shared it with us.
AL,
This poem is short but is powerful and raw at the same time! You dive into a deeper meaning and do it so effectively.
Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely love how short, but straightforward and honest this is. It has so many deeper thoughts within it, that it is truly powerful. The only advice I have is the last line was a bit wordy and kind of took away from the piece for me. Otherwise, great work! Keep writing.
So short yet so powerful. I really felt this one. Fear is something that many people struggle with and to just trust that everything will be ok is all we can do sometimes.
Your poem has few lines, but says so much. We cannot let our fears occupy our lives. How are we supposed to go through life if all we think about are our fears? We can grow when they are present, by overcoming the things that scare us. This is where our fears can be helpful to us. While we may not know what tomorrow will bring, we can hold comfort in knowing that fear can be a companion and not only an enemy. Our fears may change from day to day, but I am confident that we are able to overcome them.
Yesterday, fear was my greatest enemy,
And today it has given me some trouble,
No I cannot foretell the future,
But tomorrow I won’t let it make me stumble
Thanks AL,
Jason
Al,
Hi Im a student at Wayne State University and am in a class that aims to engage with the community beyond the university and corporations. I really liked your poem and the deeper meaning behind it even though it was really short. It was concise and to the point. I like how you made a correlation with fear and future. Good luck in the future and good job!
Hello AL – I am currently a student in an English course called Writing and Community, which focuses on community outreach and service learning. We try to make connections with people and organizations outside of the university to enhance our learning. I really enjoyed reading your poem. Although it was only a few lines, I think it conveyed a strong and important message. I agree with you that you should embrace the emotions you are feeling on any given day, as you never know what kind of emotions the next day will bring. Good for you for being able to make peace with the feeling of fear and embrace any emotion. I hope you continue to write poetry and are able to express yourself through your writing. I wish you good things in the future!
AL,
I loved your take on fear being a companion and an enemy, and not a feeling. I agree that sometimes fear can feel like an embodiment of our emotions and can actually feel like someone else in our lives. But I appreciate your take on the future and how we need to take life day by day because we never know what tomorrow will bring. I wish you the best tomorrow you could have and a better tomorrow from then on out. Whatever tomorrow may bring, good or bad, always holds the knowledge that your fear can be your strength when they conquered it.
Hi, AL,
Who is to say what the future holds? Who knows what our perspective will be? Life changes so much and so quickly that it’s hard to judge things at face value. We develop and move through life in a way that what is seen as misfortune one day may feel like a gift on another. I guess the moral is that our mindset makes all of the difference in how we feel.
Sending you good thoughts.
Hi Al,
I just wanted to let you know how much your poem has touched my heart and how much it resonated with me. I also struggle with my fears, and they sometimes stop me from being who I can be. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words with us.
Hi AL,
I really like your poem here. With the length of it being short, you were still able to make a theme out of this that is easy for readers. Fear is a very being emotion that can really affect of feelings and actions. Fear can result from many different things throughout life, but everyone experiences it and you will overcome it eventually just like you stated. It is important that you do not fear the future or future things because everything happens for a reason. If you do not know what will happen in the future you should not worry about it. I like how you suggest that tomorrow is a new day that can have new beginnings and changes. You must embrace what occurs when it happens. Thanks for sharing this poem with us!
Shawn
I feel that this is wonderfully crafter poem that really captivated the emotion of fear and all that encompasses it in such short amount of lines and words.
Thank you so much for sharing your work!
This is was such a short and empowering poem about fear, and its honestly a lesson we all need, that fear is something that is a part of us and instead of fighting it we should just embrace it.
AL, it is truly amazing how a poem so short can have such a profound effect. I love the idea of using fear to our advantage. It gives us confidence in our darkest times.
AL, it is excellent how you say so much within a few words. There is power in using our fears as motivation to overcome them. Your poem has great rhythm despite it being short. I also like how you incorporate yesterday, today, and tomorrow as a central theme. I wish it was longer so I could read more, but I understand that is part of the effect.
– Tim
AL,
Your words resonate with me as they reflect the virtues of hope, faith, and love. The acceptance of reality can be gory and disturbing, but through these virtues, we prevail and grow stronger. The truth is constant and remains within our hearts as it guides us towards justice and away from the deceptions of the world.
I LOVE this poem.
That it’s so short is the point! Things change so quickly, why bother spending more time than you need to trying to guess how things will shake out?
Well done!
This poem is written well and I can feel the emotion. Fear is anyone’s greatest enemy because it holds us back from exploring. The future will come don’t wait for it but don’t look back on the past because it will never change. Hope for the best and live in the moment. You got this and remember the best is yet to come!
I really liked this poem! Though it is short I feel as though that is all that is needed. There are good day and there are bad days and a lot of people try to live in the moment and only focus on what is to come instead of dwelling on their bad days. The part where you say “Tomorrow we’ll see what we shall find” shows that we can keep on open mind about what is going to happen in the future even though we fear the unknown or what has already happened in life. This also create a sense of hope and that tomorrow is a new day. Great Job!
A short poem with an effective message of fear. Thanks for reminding us to embrace our darkest fear and not let it consume and hinder us from growing. We should embrace the uncertainty and take life one day at a time.
Short and effective poem about fear. We all have fears and doubt about life and the future.
Thank you for reminding us that we shouldn’t worry too much about what tomorrow brings but try to bask in the present and enjoy the moment as no one can predict the future and what tomorrow holds.
While short, this poem holds great power. I myself have been facing some hard days of my own recently, so to remember that feelings pass with days is a big comfort to me. The thought that I could wake up tomorrow feeling much better than today relieves an indescribable amount of weight off my shoulders. Words are medicine and you have proven that to be true here. Thank you for sharing.
Hi AL, I like this poem. It made me think about how our emotions can change drastically and quickly. Your use of the past, present, and future is great. I’m sorry you find yourself struggling with fear, but like you said, nobody knows the future so maybe it will be gone tomorrow! Wishing you the best.
Even though your poetry is short, it has a lot of meaning. Recognizing and accepting fear and uncertainty is fantastic because it provides us hope for positive change because we don’t know what the future holds. Overall, I admired how a brief poem could convey such a powerful message.
I like this poem a lot because it is short, sweet and to the point. It gets across a huge feeling of fear and how it can come up out of nowhere and leave at any time. It is like this with most emotions in that they can come about at any time and leave at anytime. This is one of the reasons why controlling emotions is hard sometimes. I don’t know what fear you are having right now, but writing seems to be your outlet which is really good. Keep up the great work!
A change in mindset is a strong step to change. Fear can be a weakness, but it can also be a great motivator. The future is uncertain, but you are looking towards it positively, which is all we can do sometimes.
Hi AL,
I love the meaning behind this poem. While short, it is such a powerful piece. Fear is a complex feeling, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Fear can be motivating, but it can also be terrifying. The idea of accepting and being okay with fear to move forward is a great reminder, because sometimes fear is necessary. This poem reminded me that sometimes things may seem scary, but you cannot live your life avoiding things that make you fearful. Thank you for sharing this amazing piece!
Ainsley
AL your poem might be short but it has such a deepful meaning on an emotion that. There have been days where tomorrow gives me fear just based on the fact of the unknown. During the day when its the companion its not so hard to fear just because were excited or it is thoughtful of what the day might bring. Hopefully one day we can learn a way and become the master of our fear. AL I hope you keep on writing poems you have such a talent for them.
I really like how you show that there are two ways to look at fear – either as a companion or an enemy. I relate this poem to the quote – “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that is why it’s called present.” You have done a great job showing the connection between fear and time. I believe that your poem can motivate people to conquer their fears.
It’s good that you’re able to overcome your struggles and use them as an opportunity to grow. It’s always important that even if life throws whatever it wants at you, beating these strong challenges is key to building a strong person.
Wow I love how you used just a few lines to turn fear from an enemy to a driving force help you get through life and face tomorrow! This was a really impactful poem!! I really loved the first and last lines as I feel they show exactly the message you wanted to get across! Great job on this poem, thank you for sharing it!
For such a short poem it is so powerful! Fear is something we all deal with and some days the fear of it is stronger than most days. I just love how you’re talking about something that we all experience each day. I hope you experience a time when life isn’t thinking of the fears you face each day. This poem was beautiful thank you for sharing!
Your poem is a powerful reflection on the ever-changing nature of fear and anxieties in life. The lines “Yesterday, fear was my greatest enemy / Yet, today it’s a companion of mine” capture the idea that fear is not always a negative force in our lives. Sometimes fear can be a valuable ally. your poem is a beautiful reminder that fear is a natural part of the human experience, and that it is up to us to decide how we respond to it. By embracing our fears and learning to live with uncertainty, we can find the strength to face whatever challenges come our way. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful words.