strange house we must keep and fill.
house that eats and pleads and kills.
house on legs. house on fire. house infested
with desire. haunted house. lonely house.
house of trick and suck and shrug.
give-it-to-me house. i-need-you-baby house.
house whose rooms are pooled with blood.
house of hands. house of guilt. house
that other houses built. house of lies
and pride and bone. house afraid to be alone.
house like an engine that churns and stalls.
house with skin and hair for walls.
house the seasons singe and douse.
house that believes it is not a house.

– 'ash' by tracy k smith

i must not fear.
fear is the mind-killer.
fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
i will face my fear.
i will permit it to pass over me and through.
and when it has gone past
i will turn the inner eye to see its path.
where the fear has gone, there will be nothing.
only i will remain.

– 'litany against fear' from dune by frank herbert