mindful

PB119243

every day
   i see or hear
      something
         that more or less

kills me
   with delight,
      that leaves me
         like a needle

in the haystack
   of light.
      it is what i was born for –
         to look, to listen,

to lose myself
   inside this soft world –
      to instruct myself
         over and over

in joy,
   and acclamation.
      nor am i talking
         about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
   the very extravagant –
      but of the ordinary,
         the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
   oh, good scholar,
      i say to myself,
         how can you help

but grow wise
   with such teachings
      as these –
         the untrimmable light

of the world,
   the ocean’s shine,
      the prayers that are made
         out of grass?

-mary oliver

my sister sent me a book of her poetry. i’m pouring over it.     

Comments

  1. Absolute favorite poet ever.

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  2. You beat me to it Char. I want to post some of her stuff on my blog too. Haven't read that one yet, but wow. I love it. And i love the picture. And it is so perfectly you, both the poem and the picture. I love your soul my dear sister friend.

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  3. I adore Mary Oliver! I work with your parents, and they mentioned your blog to me. I'm so happy to have found it.

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  4. Oh man I thought you wrote that poem until I got to the end. We should meet this Mary Oliver. What do you know about her?

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