When Patricia prompted us to write about doubt, a song started on repeat in my head. I sang the lyric, “drive the dark of doubt away” from “Ode to Joy.”
“Fill us with the light of day!”
If you know this hymn, I’ve now passed the earworm on to you. Sorry.
But as I contemplate doubt, I realize that it’s not dark. Without doubt, we wouldn’t have belief or clarity.
This first year of retirement has thrown a lot of doubt my way. What do I do now? Where is my purpose? What are my goals? Who am I if not a teacher?
All of these questions are necessary to get me to the next chapter of my life. They are normal and necessary.
I follow poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. She generously sends a poem each day. I used this poem to inspire my poem today.
Here I Pray
My doubt has fog in it,
steam that glows on the bayou,
and a sky above preparing for a new day.There is Spanish moss here,
swaying in soft breeze
gathering space for doubt.I meet myself in the mist,
question her purpose,
wonder where she will go now.I am certain only of not knowing.
I am comfortable in this doubt
holding the gift of more time.Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
I love the use of fog to help you think about doubt. The gathering space for doubt and the thoughts of doubt as a gift in the time of not knowing. Thanks for sharing both yours and Trommer’s poem today.
Margaret, I love your opening line — “My doubt has fog in it…” such a perfect metaphor for uncertainty. And thank you for sharing Trommer’s poem/poetry. I can see how it offered a perfect prompt. I find deep resonance in “I am certain only of not knowing…” This slows me down; a gentle encouragement to sit in the mysteries. Thank you.
Margaret, every time we begin a new chapter of our lives doubt creeps in. Did I make the right decision? What am I going to do now? How will I navigate the unknown? How we face that doubt and move on is a sign of our strength.
Margaret, being comfortable in the doubt in the fog here in the bayou with this gift of time is a place I feel I know all too well also. Yes, the space for a new day – – this line we are in as the next to be part of this next chapter is surreal and it all happened so fast. We are now the torch bearers of the next phase. The flame is lit. We are finding our way. That’s what I feel in your poem today, and I am so grateful I’m not alone on the journey.