Almond

For Brecht 5 (In Which He Meets Neuroscience)

O almond, thirsty drinker of water,
o amygdala cunning deployer
of much of the energies of our lives,
for fear dispatches us on its errands

fear, friend and enemy, for we should fear
both being fearless and being fearful,
fear that blesses us with caution, fear that
can drive us savage far beyond reason

how to know when fear saves us and when fear
mak…