The fear of Christmas

of the retail hell we've made it

and dying in a giant

impersonal shop-hangar

wearing unclean underwear

after discovering that a product

one has just purchased

was cheaper elsewhere

the anxiety of missing out

on a bargain

of losing a receipt

of not finding a car parking space

the tyranny of opening and closing times

of time itself inching forward

unstoppably impudently

fretting about leaving items in hotel rooms

letting a fire go out

and not having funds

for unashamed continuous consumerism

worrying about saying the wrong thing

and forgetting acquaintances

before they forget about one

the disappointment of

not remembering any dream

the itchiness of being a member

of a minority population

of ignoring one's native language

apart when required for jingoistic purposes

the fear of not being as brave as the past

or as brave as fear