The shepherd confided, the basis
of mutual understanding is anxiety.

Those who have been purely afraid
of themselves know what it is to love.

And those who haven't don't.
Everyone needs to have been there:

in that special space
where nothing has ever made sense.

Whence compassion is essence.
Fear is so great when the universe rings

like a small bowl
that the toll is only to love.

But life is a series of ever smaller,
intenser fears, the animals complained.

One day we shall feel this, but when?
When there is no more "happening",he said.

-from "The Animals"