Mary Oliver #1- "I Worried"

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 This poem is simple and yet so utterly relatable, that it is impossible to look past it without seeing a glimpse of yourself within the lines. I was first struck by Oliver's list of items she worries about, all of which are easily identifiable as things that would continue happening without any level of human intervention. She seems to comment on the futility of worrying about things outside of our control, and reminds us that more often than not, the things we worry about will turn our just fine if left alone. Her next worries turn inward, and her words "Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better" sound all too familiar to a perfectionist like myself. I was reminded of the following passage in the Bible when she describes that even the sparrows can sing amongst their worries: 

Luke 12:7 (KJV)
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

In the same way that Mary Oliver realizes that she too can sing, like the sparrows, I am reminded that the Lord cares for me in the same way, if not 1000x more than he cares for nature. We all have the power to sing with joy, knowing that our worries add no value to our life, nor diminish the threat of aging, growing up, or facing tomorrow. As a Christian, I know I can sing for joy because not only has my past been forgiven (seen in the questions of what I did in the past), but my tomorrow is promised to be planned according to the Lord's will. I have enjoyed the intersection of Oliver's poetry with religious symbolism, and look forward to reading more of her works. 


Flock of birds, California, 2023

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