Afraid? Of Whom Am I Afraid?

This poem is a contemplation on fear, mortality, and the divine, deftly exploring these themes through a series of rhetorical questions. Its tone is one of resolute introspection, with an underlying note of defiance; the speaker does not fear death, life, or the concept of resurrection, presenting these elements as known, even mundane, entities rather than unknown, fear-inducing forces.

The poem's structure, four quatrains with a simple rhyme scheme, reflects its straightforward, if profound, contemplation. The poet's use of personification, especially in representing death as "the porter of my father's lodge," gives a tangible, almost casual, quality to abstract concepts, making them more accessible and less intimidating to the reader. This personification, coupled with the poem's inherent metaphysical questioning, makes the poem stand out. The final stanza, comparing the resurrection to the east trusting the morning, offers a beautiful yet potent metaphor, underscoring the theme of inevitable natural cycles and divine order. In sum, this poem is a powerful exploration and defiance of the universal human fears surrounding life, death, and what lies beyond, expressed through elegant personification and vivid metaphors.