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.