Based on a real-life encounter.
To R. who’ll not read this
because we only met onceDuring a pause you asked,
how do you handle fear?
and that stopped me in mid-breath.
I mean, fear’s the big one, right?
I sputtered for a bit
trying to come up with something
meaningful, without knowing what
might be helpful to you.
I ask questions. You are a musician.
You want to write music, put up videos —
your family doesn’t understand.
I tried to be encouraging.
Now days later I still hear your question
and think – what artist is without fear?
How can I go on? What if no idea comes?
What if everyone laughs?
What if no one cares at all?
What if the page is always blank?
So some of what I said was true –
you have to follow your dream,
do your work, show by example
that this is your life.
This is important.
This is why I live.
Yes.