I Worried - Mary Oliver

[Larry Robinson]


I Worried
 
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.
 
            - Mary Oliver