read by Sylvia Schoeppner in German and Sher Schwartz in English
“I Worried” by Mary Oliver
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11 responses to ““I Worried” by Mary Oliver”
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Worrying thins us out. It’s as if we send off pieces of ourselves — dispersing our energy— away to troubling dimensions. It dilutes and weakens our essence. Pulling back our awareness to our field of light and peace strengthens our life force. Releasing our distressful considerations revitalizes and invigorates the soul.
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A listener in Alaska commented:
I like how you identify it as a poem for our times. it really is. Of course we’ve all known forever that anxiety rises up through the boggy realms we can’t control. I’ve been mindful lately how democracy has at least given us an illusion of control, and as our democracy is undermined, the white noise of anxiety seems to be pervading everything. but the real gift of the poem is in the end. Giving into the temptation to try and control, actually prevents us from being able to truly sing. Only by surrendering control and the ineffectual worry that it engenders can we truly sing. Lovely to be reminded of this in these dark days. I like the German. She’s a good reader. For me the best thing about including a foreign language version is how it reminds us that the poem is really singing out of a human condition not a cultural one.
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Thank for commenting. I was struck by your comment: “Giving into the temptation to try and control, actually prevents us from being able to truly sing.” So important to remember. Thank you. And , several people have mentioned enjoying hearing the poem voiced in German. I sure hope Sylvia will voice some more poems for us in the future. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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Thank you for listening and commenting. Let there be light and an opportunity to sing soon, or we may just have to go out and do it within the night–like the Darkling Thrush (poem by Thomas Hardy).
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Thanks for the comments! I guess TRump’s song is a little different . His is all about crowing his own identity instead of sloughing off and being full of easy hope again. Some think it is time for Trump to hand over the mic. 🙂
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A listener in Colorado sent me an audio response !
I really love this poem. And, it relates to what my father used to repeat to me. When he was ill and even before he was ill I remember him telling me 90% of what you worry about never comes to pass and 90% of what does come to pass are things you could have never seen coming. Also, it seems singing is an open mindset coming from a place of possibilities whereas if one thinks I hope … I hope this does not happen – the wish comes more from a place of fear. The poem makes me think of this comparison between I hope and I wonder.
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Thank you for sending a response while you were walking. Seems like this poem triggered memories and reflections. I love thinking about the distinction between I hope and I wonder. I wonder is so much more open — a curiousness that seems to say I am curious what will happen, and I think I can handle whatever happens.
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