The Smiling Man (Fear)

This song was adapted from a poem, FEAR, I wrote Six years ago.

The Smiling Man (Fear)

The fear, a cold, paralyzing fear,
Always there, hard to ignore
Like a cold wind on the back of your neck

The fear that grips you
When you hear the rattling sound of keys
The fear of walking alone in the dark

Seeing a man walk towards you in the park
The fear after every knock on the door
The fear of being alone in your own house

Fear of being the last person on the bus
Fear of the guy sitting beside you at the movies
Fear of taking the back seat of the car

Fear of the smiling man
Fear of the serious man
Fear, cold, haunting, crippling fear.
©P.M Quinns

The poem and song resonate with trauma and abuse survivors, capturing the paralyzing nature of fear experienced in everyday situations. Both works illustrate how trauma can embed itself in the psyche, manifesting as an ongoing sense of dread that survivors often struggle to escape. Both touch on common triggers like the sound of keys, being alone in vulnerable spaces, and encountering unfamiliar people—evoking the pervasive anxiety many survivors of abuse face.

The metaphorical “cold wind on the back of your neck” and the description of fear as "haunting, crippling" paint a vivid picture of hypervigilance, a common reaction to trauma. Hypervigilance involves a constant, overwhelming sense of threat, even in seemingly mundane situations, as survivors often find themselves unable to let go of their defenses. This is particularly evident in the description of everyday fears—walking in the park, hearing a knock at the door, or riding a bus alone—which highlight the enduring effects of past trauma.

For survivors of abuse, fear often goes beyond specific events, becoming an omnipresent force in their lives. This fear is not limited to a single moment; it lurks in routine experiences, creating an emotional prison. The “fear of the smiling man” and “fear of the serious man” point to the complex, conflicting emotions survivors may feel toward others, where any interaction can seem threatening.

By capturing these vivid and relatable experiences, both the song and poem provide a voice for those who struggle to articulate the weight of anxiety in the aftermath of abuse. It sheds light on the importance of recognizing trauma’s long-lasting impact and encourages empathetic understanding of the psychological battles survivors face daily.