Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and song and laughter?
Why am I afraid to live, I who love life
and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of earth and sea and sky?
Why am I afraid to love, I who love?
Why am I afraid, I who am not afraid?
Why must I pretend to scorn in order to pity?
Why must I hide myself in self-contempt in order to understand?
Why must I be so ashamed of my strength, so proud of my weakness?
Why must I live in a cage like a criminal, defying and hating, I who love peace and friendship?
Why was I born without a skin? Oh God, that I must wear armor in order to touch or be touched.”
~ Eugene O’Neill, The Great God Brown and Other Plays
Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953), was an American playwright who won the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature “for the power, honesty and deep-felt emotions of his dramatic works, which embody an original concept of tragedy.” His plays involve characters who inhabit the fringes of society, engaging in depraved behavior, where they struggle to maintain their hopes and aspirations but ultimately slide into disillusionment and despair. O’Neill wrote only one comedy (Ah, Wilderness!): all his other plays involve some degree of tragedy and personal pessimism.
Source: Thank you Whiskey River for quote. Wiki and goodreads for bio. Black and White for image.
Live & Learn 
Fear is the root of if not all then many evils. Its a protective instinct that has its use and purpose but that can also rule and ruin our lives. If this is from the Great God Brown — unfamiliar with that O’Neil play — I’d like to read it.
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Yes, Frank. The source indicated this was from Great God Brown. Be curious about your feedback once you read it…thanks.
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I missed the poll and the blog name. Don’t know if you changed it or not. Did you get a new blog appearance? Seems it is a bit easier on the eyes and easier to read. But then I can’t remember.
I changed the appearance of my blog a week or so ago, and nobody said anything. lol But if some keep coming back, I guess it doesn’t matter.
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Thanks for your follow-up. Results will be posted early next week. Happy New Year.
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That really made me think on this gloomy Saturday morning. I use to be afraid of almost nothing, but then I learned fear as I aged and got hurt. Not sure it is unhealthy unless it stops one from living the best life they can.
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On point. I’m aligned with you. I was fearless when I was younger. Far less so today…Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Powerful post. Love the image. Words to ponder on the run in the cold…
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I agree…beautiful juxtaposition of words and image… – J.
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I with you. Both of you. Thank you.
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As I was reading this post I felt as if I am speaking with myself. Every single word touched my heart. Loved this post.
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Me too Sonia. Me too.
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Don’t little kids start asking “Why?” as soon as they can talk? And here we are, still asking “Why?”
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Yes. And why, and why and why and why…:)
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I have nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2012 award. You can check it out here: http://klling.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/blog-of-the-year-2012/
Kim
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Thank you Kim. I appreciate your nomination and kind words. Happy holidays to you and your family. Dave
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Good post. Happy New Year.
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Thank you Ivsrao. Happy New Year to you and your family too. Dave
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I agree it is a powerful piece. Thanks for sharing. Appropriate to so many people. I was once there but hopefully less so now…
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It is powerful. I’m with you. I too am less so, but I have a ways to go. 🙂
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This is haunting..this is all of us at times I think. Or, perhaps it is just me at times (though somehow I don’t think it would resonate with such purity if it didn’t touch the human condition in general)…
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Yes, haunting, true, applicable. All the above. When I read this, it popped off the page at me. Incredible work. No surprise he is Nobel laureate…
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David,
I come here and am stirred- a common experience for me as a reader of your blog.
Made me think of Auden’s passage- “We’d be rather be ruined than changed. We’d rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the moment and let our illusions die.”
I often think that if only we could each be braver, the world would be transformed.
Wishing you a wondrous New Year- and strength.
Tom
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HI Tom. Thank you. I had not heard of Auden’s passage. Thank you for sharing. Made me stop and think a bit about his words. Profound. Truth. Happy New Year to you and your family. Dave
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