I was afraid of darkness once

of silly things, and deadly dance.

I was afraid of nightly tales

where lovers died and heroes failed.

I was afraid of phantom woes

and wails at night of dreadful ghosts,

I was afraid of witches’ spells

and demons in the burning hell.

Yet all these fears were proven small

compared to one I’d learned in fall

for the greatest fear that was soon to call

was having you and not at all.