What Is the Poem, “Fear,” that Caeleb Dressel Posted on His Instagram Page?

American swimmer Caeleb Dressel, after almost a year of silence, has begun to open up again, first with an interview given at the end of the US National Championships, and simultaneously by posting a poem from one of the great American poets, Shel Silverstein.

While Dressel’s Instagram feed has been mostly dedicated to ads and his dog Jane lately, the poem might be a peak into where Dressel is at with his mental health.

The poem, from Silverstein’s seminal 1930 work Where the Sidewalk Ends, describes a boy named Barnabus Browning, who was so afraid of everything that he just sat locked in his room, consumed by his fear. The poem ends with Barnabus Browning crying so much that he filled his locked room with tears, drowning.

The poem’s ending is a metaphor for the anxiety that consumes so many young people in the 2020s. A century earlier, Silverstein recognized the threat of being consumed by fear and that perhaps the obsession with avoiding bad things can be the worst thing of all.

The poem is an appropriate one for Dressel who, probably with the knowledge that he was not going to swim to his usual standards at the US National Championships, raced anyway. He raced prelims, he raced C-Finals, and at the end of the meet, he stood up and did an interview, knowing the kinds of questions he would have to answer.

The responses to the post were a who’s-who of global swimming stars, from Americans like Nick Albiero and Carson Foster, to even international stars like Italian teen Benedetta Pilato.

The message from Dressel at the end of his meet was clear: fear is okay. We are all afraid at times. But fear itself can sometimes be more damaging than the things we are afraid of.

It is only through changing our relationship with fear that we can manage the emotion rather than be overpowered by it. It’s okay to be afraid and go for it anyway. Failure is not an end, but a step in the process of learning.

The full poem Fear, by Shel Silverstein:

Barnabus Browning
Was scared of drowning,
So he never would swim
Or get into  a boat
Or take a bath
Or cross a moat.
He just sat day and night
With his door locked tight
And the windows nailed down,
Shaking with fear
That a wave might appear,
And cried so many tears
That they filled up the room
And he drowned.

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ardy43
1 year ago

You know what swimming junkies? Caeleb Dressel has achieved so many things in our sport during his illustrious career. 3rd only to Phelps and Spitz in the history of men’s swimming This young man is fantastic on SO MANY LEVELS. During those DOMINATING years in his career from 2013-2021, he showed us just how special and gifted he truly was. Now, with that said, I think we all would like to see him make the push in his events in 2024. If it doesn’t happen, well, as far as I am concerned, we witnessed the first :17 50yd free. :42 100yd fly and :39 100yd free. We have witnessed the greatest LC 100m flyer in history! OLYMPIC records in 50FR,… Read more »

Carter
1 year ago

To quote Karate Kid 3: “Daniel-San! It’s okay to lose to opponent, must not lose to fear!”
-Mr. Miyagi

All my support to Dressel for conquering his fears and getting out there and racing despite the results. Regardless of what happens next year or anytime going forward, its comforting knowing that Dressel has been having fun with the sport instead of dreading it.

Ol' Longhorn
1 year ago

Imagine, say, just over a year ago, that this article would only get 12 comments. I guess all the fanboys weren’t in it for the long haul. That’s a shame but probably good for him. If he really wants to help people with his experience (and I get the “it’s not his job”), and in that way gain even more happiness, he should be more specific about how he felt, when he felt it, etc., not this silence for a year and then dribbles of cryptic things. Why not just say you had panic attacks? There’s no shame in that. I realize he’s not there yet, and maybe never will feel comfortable, but I sure hope he’s not saving it… Read more »

Big Purple Dinosaur
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
1 year ago

It’s super weird that you think everyone should use kid gloves on MA, but then simultaneously go after Dressel at every opportunity (for years and years and years).

Wish you would tell us what your real beef with Dressel and real passion for MA was, because it’s clear that there’s something here you’re not telling us about.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Big Purple Dinosaur
1 year ago

The “beef” against Dressel and the “passion” for MA has never been about the individuals, as I’ve commented many times (all you had to do was actually pay attention, and not instantly react): it’s about the SwimSwam commentariat and the unreasonable expectations and the equally irrational hate they pin on individual swimmers. If you want to review my actual posts, the “anti-Dressel” comments were not about what he’d done in performance; it was what everyone incredulously said he could easily do in some magical alternate universe. That not only put pressure on him (as evident form his hopefully transient downfall), but also lessened the credit to some of the icons of the sport. People thought he could take on Peaty… Read more »

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Big Purple Dinosaur
1 year ago

As I’ve also said many times, my only beef with Dressel is that he stole my cattle.

1978wzlyrah
1 year ago

Tough crowd here amidst the support. Extreme anxiety is crippling & can be crushing if not addressed. CD seems to have been crushed at last yr’s worlds mid meet. But he came back this year, knowing (I assume) he wouldn’t make the team, & he did it anyway. Swam his C final(s?), & even made an A final. AND faced the media hordes/monster when he was done. Good on you, CD!! May you make it back to the National Team, & when you retire, as one eventually does, may it be on your terms.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Braden, surely you noted that I didn’t engage in any “I told you so” antics to the legions of idol worshippers when Dressel navigated through his crisis. I could’ve run down hundreds of SwimSwam commenters (and Mel) with that. If that ain’t proof that my earlier comments were not aimed at Dressel, but rather at SwimSwam’s flagrant promotion of a group of fanatical hero worshippers who had put almost nonsensical expectations on him, you’re not following the plot.

1978wzlyrah
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Point made re comments; I was also looking at thumbs down votes across all comments here, & have followed the MA not qualifying kerfluffle/brouhaha — now THAT was a tough crowd all around.

Zippo
1 year ago

Ripples of Courage: Caeleb’s Swim Against Time

In the realm of swimming’s grand stage,
Where champions seek their fame to engage,
There lived a star, Caeleb by name,
Whose prowess in water brought him acclaim.

With strokes swift and grace like no other,
He conquered the pool, a fearless brother.
But deep inside, a fear did reside,
Of a young rival, David, by his side.

Caeleb Dressel, the swimming sensation,
Feared the rise of youth, a daunting equation.
David Popovici, with talent untold,
A prodigy emerging, confident and bold.

Caeleb’s heart trembled, his spirit unsure,
A fear that he couldn’t simply ignore.
Would the tides of time wash away… Read more »

Swimfan
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Thank you for that. Beautiful poem. I think most of us are really feeling for Caeleb right now.

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

A 6-yo kid can make that poem using ChatGPT

PVK
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

This is so ChatGPT.

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Stop flooding Swimswam with AI poems!

Kate
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

I know a chatGPT created poem when I see it!

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  Kate
1 year ago

ChatGPT troll should be banned

Bossanova
1 year ago

Caeleb’s mindset is right and he’s got plenty of time. Next summer in Paris, he’s gonna add 6 more medals to his total. Calling it now… half or more will be of the GOLD variety🥇

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Bossanova
1 year ago

God, here we go again. Attempt #2 at “Let’s Break Dressel.” There have been sooooo many predictions about Dressel being the next Superman, but the constant pressure of being expected to perform like a hero obviously took a toll on him. It’s unfair to place such high expectations on anyone, and it’s okay if he doesn’t win any medals or make the team. In a recent interview, he expressed his desire to focus on the present instead of fixating on the future. Meet him where he’s at, not some past glory or future hope, and offer genuine support instead of adding to the pressure he already feels.

Andrew
1 year ago

Dressel to SMU confirmed?

Mr Piano
1 year ago

This man is beautiful

Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
Reply to  Mr Piano
1 year ago

Imagine downvoting this?

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
1 year ago

Maybe I don’t think specific men are beautiful???

(all men are beautiful ofc)

Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Yeah… I highly doubt this original statement about Caeleb was meant to comment on any other man. It’s also probably a comment about his soul, not his looks. Either way, it was just about him. No need for an “all men matter” take here.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Mr Piano
1 year ago

I’d go with Flo.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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