The fear of dreaming
Here is a poem of Louise Gluck, an American poet:
CONFESSION
To say I'm without fear—
it wouldn't be true.
I'm afraid of sickness, humiliation.
Like anyone, I have my dreams.
But I've learned to hide them,
to protect myself
from fulfillment: all happiness
attracts the Fates' anger.
They are sisters, savages—
in the end, they have
no emotion but envy.
We are afraid of happiness? Better not to feel it, than feeling the envy, better to hide the dreams, instead of fulfillment. Better to make the same lame products, for ever and not to face the Fates' anger?
To say I'm without fear—
it wouldn't be true.
I'm afraid of sickness, humiliation.
Like anyone, I have my dreams.
But I've learned to hide them,
to protect myself
from fulfillment: all happiness
attracts the Fates' anger.
They are sisters, savages—
in the end, they have
no emotion but envy.
We are afraid of happiness? Better not to feel it, than feeling the envy, better to hide the dreams, instead of fulfillment. Better to make the same lame products, for ever and not to face the Fates' anger?
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