I Worried
Mary Oliver
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it, and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.
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Oliver, Mary. "I Worried." Swan: Poems and Prose Poems, Beacon Press, 2010
You can read more about Mary Oliver here.
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I wish you mindfulness, peace, presence, the laying aside of your worries (if even for a few moments), and some poetry as this week winds down.
You have chosen the perfect poem for now. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you - this poem needs to go into my notebook
ReplyDeleteThis brought tears to my eyes. I am adding singing to my list today... thank you so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteExtremely wise words, and I thank you for sharing this poem. I hope your outlook improves, Bonny, as you know as well as all of us do, that one rarely worries about the things that actually happen, and worrying about them never stops them from happening. Do your best to stay in the moment, and both of us should take this advice and sing today. Singing really does improve your mood!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Thank-you Bonny. I don't really sink too often but this week...even the teeny tiny bit of news I watch...has me sunk.
ReplyDeleteI think that's a perfect poem for right now. I feel like a worry so much about Dale and I have to keep reminding myself that worry doesn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteOh that worry. It is something I struggle with, but not when I am out on the lake paddle boarding. Then I am free of it!
ReplyDeleteAs a perpetual worrier, I think you for sharing this. It's so hard to let go of the worrying, especially now, but it's something we should all try to do.
ReplyDeletebeautiful poem and wasn't this week crazy??? Honestly I keep thinking well nothing can top that and then it does again and again.
ReplyDeleteI think with all that is going on in the world, in our country and in life this is a wonderful poem, thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem. Mary Oliver was so eloquent. I would agree it's been a week. Just when I think it can't get any crazier it does.
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