Everyone has fears of the unknown, sometimes causing us from
taking chances and chasing after our dreams. In “So She Wouldn’t Fail” by
Marilyn Bushman-Carlton, she writes of a woman who puts her trust in the
average things in the world to avoid the bitter taste of failure.
So she
wouldn’t fail at something big,
she kept
busy doing average things,
things she
wasn’t ashamed to talk about,
exactly,
things she could always say
were
temporary, and just until she found
what it was
she was really mean to do, or be.
She uses imagery in a couple different stanzas to express
and illustrate the feelings and thoughts of the character she centers her poem
around. For example, “She could see herself shut inside / an office, skin wrung
out and gray, / feet itching inside three-inch heels” which illustrates a tone
of dread and a dismal outlook on what the future could hold for her. The title
of the poem “So She Wouldn’t Fail” also adds to the motif of avoiding risks and
chasing dreams. But instead playing it safe, which leads to misery, unhappiness
and wasted potential.
This poem reminded me of some wasted opportunities in my
life that I should have taken but did not because of fear. I could connect with
some of the feelings and thoughts of the character, because I have had similar
musings myself. Sometimes I subject myself and settle for mediocrity for the
fear of failure, or the fear or stepping out into the unknown. This poem truly
highlights the aspect of human nature that fears the unknown and settles which
is more comfortable and easy. And this settling leads to a state of unhappiness
and regret that their lives are not fulfilling. I have had plenty of those
moments of regret for not taking advantage of some of the opportunities that
life has given me.
This poem can resonate with Mormons because it highlights
the potential of a soul and why we are truly here. We are here to learn and
progress, and not rest on our laurels. We have a divine potential that only
grows as we fail. Because the character tries to avoid failure, she is only
wasting her potential and stunting her progression. This poem reminded me of
the fact that failure is necessary and I shouldn’t stop chasing goals and
dreams because of the paralyzing fear of failure.
(401 Words)
