For those at a low ebb

[SheffieldJane]

I Worried

By

Mary Oliver

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the river 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? ( etc)

Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.

And I gave it up. And took my old body and went out into the morning

And sang.

🌼

[Kendrew]

How lovely.......I'm going to sing too.❤

[Koalajane in reply to Kendrew]

I sing a lot, but not very well. It certainly helps me

[Kendrew in reply to Koalajane]

I actually love singing and can hold a tune but definitely wouldn't say I'm a good singer! I used to sing soprano but definitely more of an alto now!😄

[Smokygirl in reply to Kendrew]

Always a contralto!

[Noosat in reply to Koalajane]

I cannot sing but I do recite poetry, some of it my own, as I go through the day

[Koalajane in reply to Noosat]

I don’t care that I can’t sing well but it does help. Well done for reciting poetry. Whatever helps us is great

[JGBH]

Wonderful! Thank you. X 🌻

[Hidden]

As my children say "nice one"

[yogabonnie]

thank you. just the thing I needed today

[Blossom20]

Lovely! So true! thank you xx

[HeronNS]

Do you know human activity actually HAS changed the motion of the Earth!

That being said, it is a lovely poem.

❤️

[YuliK]

Jane, dear fellow pmr sufferer , I definitely think you should join the Red Hats Society. Inspired by Jenny Joseph’s book “warning”.... you sound like a perfect candidate. In fact we should all join.

youtu.be/8cACbzanitg(Not working as expected?)

I love this poem. It always gives me a push to get on with those days filled with trails and tribulations.

PMR has turned me into a warrior ...

Good afternoon lady’s ..😀

YuliK 😷

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[piglette]

What is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

[Constance13 in reply to piglette]

I often repeat the first line to myself - especially if I have done more than usual (which isn't often)!😂

[Smokygirl in reply to piglette]

We used to sing this in school music lessons!

[piglette in reply to Smokygirl]

I remember hearing it as a child but I can’t remember where.

[SheffieldJane in reply to piglette]

I really love that poem. 💜 One of the gifts we have now.

[York54 in reply to piglette]

Really love this poem 👏👏👏

[Megams in reply to piglette]

~Lovely, piglette - most enjoyable thank you

[York54]

Thankyou. Jane 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[Viv54]

That is lovely , think this will help a lot of us as we struggle on. Thank you . Viv xx

[Louisa1840]

Thank you Sheffield Jane. I too love the poetry of Mary Oliver.

[Hidden]

This is great. I’m a worrier of the first order. It really is futile, but I need the reminding. 🤗

[Noosat]

Wonderful, my philosophy exactly. I will drag this old body along as iong as possible, een if I can only go lie on the lounge surrounded by the plants and watch and lisen to the birds

[Canada-Geese]

Thanks for posting Mary Oliver's, "I Worried". It has a calming effect in these turbulent times. For anyone interested, Mary Oliver's poem, "Wild Geese" has a similar restful effect.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Canada-Geese]

Wild Geese.The last little bit:Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

The world offers itself to your imagination,

Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

Over and over announcing your place

In the family of things. 🍄

[kathydubro]

It is lovely and so positive. Thank you.

[Mercedes321]

Hi Sheffield Jane, What a lovely poem. Thanks so much. It is hard to stop worrying and I find my brain roams at night until it finds something worrying to latch onto, especially in the middle of the night, sometimes I recite poetry or a song and it can help. I'm going to stick this poem up on our noticeboard at our community orchard as we like our orchard to give hope, and provide a place for quietness and contemplation.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Mercedes321]

I was a bit claustrophobic during my MRI scan at Christmas. I shut my eyes and sung carols (quietly). Did the trick like poems.

[Tapestry1057]

Thank you so much for the poem you posted. Think most of us worry about things that never materialise....Am going to print it to remind myself to sing. Have forwarded to a friend who will really appreciate it.

[Grammy80]

Embrace ourselves as we are....provides a great daily goal. Love this~!!! Thanks, Jane💖

[SandyBoots]

Thank you. I needed this poem today!