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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Chel Owens 
I’m a 2nd generation worrier, so I can relate to many of the lines in this play. I’m also married to a worrier, so we’ve got all the angles covered.🤣 But hey, I do like to sing.
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😀 I relate as well.
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Isn’t that wonderful? Oliver was such a talent and so relatable. Are you giving up worrying, Chelsea, and going outside to sing?
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It’s on my list….
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I took my old body for a walk, it didn’t complain about the rain
I tried to get us to talk, my attempts were all wasted in vain
I worried a lot, yet why I don’t know
I simply forgot that garden will grow
My body would cry, my body would moan
I worried a lot to stay on my own
I wanted a partner, I wanted a friend
I worried a lot all in vain at the end
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❤️ In the end seems to be when we realize that lesson.
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yes, only in the end
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Singing at the top of my lungs!
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❤️❤️ Please do.
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I love this
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❤️ Me, too.
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Hi Chel, I have also let go of a lot of my worrying this year. There is just to much stuff that is scary so I’ve decided not try not to stress about things, most of which I can’t control.
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That’s wonderful.
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Take it from an old man who has survived many disasters; worry fixes nothing.
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It makes me feel like I’m doing something, John!
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Better you should boil water. Easier on the nerves.
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another terrific poem by Mary Oliver; thanks Chel; I have her book, ‘American Primitive’ ; her message is clear; enjoy, be in the moment, the world is a wondrous place —
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I need to get her book. I enjoy her poems.
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yes, they’re easy to read and they open us up to the wonder of the natural world including its ‘misfits’; one of my favourites is ‘The Kitten’; you can read it online —
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Wonderful poem. I tend to worry a lot myself. Maybe I should just go out and sing. Though I live in an industrial area and people might look funnily at me.
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Agreed. Maybe save it for nature walks.
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Very good advice, worrying is a habit
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And boy am I addicted to it!
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My favourite past time
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As a professional worrier, I so get this.
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As do I!
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