CHALLENGE #2

“Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” – Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Hello, dear followers!

I am here with a new Challenge, which is the 2^d in my “why-not” list:

“Ask a stranger to listen to you reading a poem in English”

To accomplish this task, I chose a poem by William Wordsworth,

“I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud”

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

It is certainly one of my favorite works of William Wordsworth, which I have long been familiar with.

When considering an addressee, I targeted someone I do not know personally. Such was my Friend’s acquaintance. I got her number. I felt a bit nervous before making a call because I realized quite well that the person wasn’t a complete stranger to me, so there is a probability to meet her one day. But I also thought it might have been pleasant for the girl to be read a poem, even if the reader was a stranger.

I dialed the number, after a while the person picked up the phone. I didn’t introduce myself. I asked her about her day and if she didn’t mind listening to a poem by William Wordsworth. She sounded suspicious, but agreed to listen to me. I did my best to read the piece with expression, thus to produce a positive effect on the listener. After I got my task accomplished, I received a good feedback I was expecting. She complimented my way of reading and expressing feelings of the writer. I was delighted.

Now I realize that I cannot disagree with Great Nietzsche: 

"If you think you can do it, ... you are right".  

We all can make this World kinder with a slight attempt to make one’s day brighter.