Fuzzy Fear
“Fear is a poor guide for decision making because it blurs rather than clarifies.”
— Daniel Kahneman
Something is not right
I cannot name what is wrong
But it hurts the heart
Like foods that cause belly fat
And stress without rest
Sometimes my thoughts feel so profound that I decide it’s best not to explain them at all. I leave them bland, vague, and mildly concerning. Among those kinds of ramblings, this poem is one of my stronger efforts.
- Name the discomfort instead of gesturing at it
Vague moment: “Something is not right”
Fix: Ask yourself what kind of wrong it is. Moral, physical, relational, environmental. Even choosing the wrong category sharpens the line. - Replace abstraction with a specific image
Vague moment: “But it hurts the heart”
Fix: Hearts don’t hurt in language as much as bodies do. Tightness, pressure, burning, heaviness. Pick a sensation the reader can feel. - Avoid similes that generalize instead of clarify
Vague moment: “Like foods that cause belly fat”
Fix: The comparison is familiar but nonspecific. Naming one food or habit would trade recognition for precision. - Watch for stacked generalities
Vague moment: “And stress without rest”
Fix: Stress and rest are both broad ideas. Replacing one with a lived detail, sleepless hours, clenched jaw, buzzing phone, grounds the line. - Interrogate what you refuse to name
Vague moment: “I cannot name what is wrong”
Fix: This is honest, but it’s also a choice. Ask whether the poem benefits more from uncertainty or from risk. Vagueness can be intentional, but it should still be examined.
