A list of worries (to be whispered to a worry doll)

by Ondine Evans

That the sky might fall on my head (too much Asterix in my youth has made me fearful in that regard)

That I may tumble headfirst down stairs, escalators, any steep incline (a fear of falling - off things, in love, out of favour)

That time will catch up with me (snapping at my heels)

That waking up scares me (not being able to sleep scares me even more, the fear of losing my dreams)

That I will be exposed (to the elements, to ridicule, as a fraud, ...physical nakedness is less scary than the revelation of my other faults)

That I will lose my ability (to speak, to move, to laugh, to feel...and I know this one is crazy, so many have so much with so little)

That I do too much worrying (fraying at the edges with fear is wearisome, the slow unravelling of confidence has unwound so many...)

And the little worry doll will look at me blankly, telling me with its silence what I really need to know.

written in response to exercise nine