Anne Waldman: Hopes & Fears

This is the most beautiful poem I’ve stumbled across in years. I’ve just listened to it being read by Marianne Faithfull in “Gang of Souls” more times then I care to admit.

I’m a little uncertain about the formatting, it’s difficult to match exactly how it was presented on the screen, but hopefully, I have it fairly close.

Hope & fear
            hopes & fears
    you have them

you had them,

hopes & fears you have them

You had them, hopes
    You have them, fears
	
hopes or fears you had them

you have them

hopes & fears you have them

I won't say no,
            you have them

I will say it plainly you had them
I had them,

hopes & fears I have them

Wake up in the morning:
    fear,
        the clock,
            the day,
                I had it

Wake up in the afternoon:
    fear,
        the clock,
            quiet,
                I had it

Fear:
    the night,
        noise,
                the street,
                        I have it

Person beating his body
against a building, I saw it

Fear: he had it
        She has it

Hopes & fears you have them

All the bodies in the morning light:
                        They have it
Wake in the morning:
    fear,
        the clock,
                the day,
                        job.

another person was there,
        he had it

Wake in the afternoon,
    she was gone,
        he had it