The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #165540 Message #3971943
Posted By: Joe Offer
17-Jan-19 - 08:16 PM
Thread Name: Obit: Poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019)
Subject: Poem: I Worried (Mary Oliver)
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.