Beneath the surface

Lurks the monster

All the children dread.

Not the boogie man

Or even monsters

Underneath the bed.

Not the shark

Beneath the waves

Swimming at the beach.

Not the beast

Out in the woods

We’re never out of reach.

Not the demon

In the dark

When children go to sleep.

Not sea monsters

Crushing ships

Coming out of the deep.

Not the dragon

Spewing flames

Wreaking havoc upon all.

Not the zombie

Eating brains

Coming down the hall.

No, the monster

Beneath the surface

Lives within each head.

It is the monster

Whose name is Fear

That all the children dread.

For Fear lives

Within the mind

And rears its ugly head

At all times

Of day or night

That’s why the children dread.

In the day

It is anxiety

Or fear of the unknown.

In the night

Comes all the dread

That anxiety has sown.

But we need not

Dread the fear

We need not ever succumb.

We just need

To realize

That most fears never come.

So face your fears

Open your eyes

And proudly lift your head.

Defeat the monster

Beneath the surface

That all the children dread.