When I Am Among The Trees
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
Mary Oliver.
From Thirst: Poems
© Beacon Press, 2007
Thank you, Alice and Mary.
ReplyDelete"...go easy,... be filled
Deletewith light, and ...shine"
Just do it!
Ahh. Mary Oliver! Thanks indeed.
ReplyDeleteThere is a wonderful interview between Maria Shriver and Mary Oliver
Deletehttp://www.oprah.com/entertainment/Maria-Shriver-Interviews-Poet-Mary-Oliver
Gosh, this brought a tear to my eye! Beautiful. Thank you Alice (and Mary).
ReplyDeleteI searched for so long for the right words for that photo. Is it a hawthorn? The fruits are very large but the leaves look like a hawthorn.
DeleteIt probably is a hawthorn - some of them have big, crabapple-like fruit. I love the look of trees that hold onto their fruit after the leaves have fallen, like rowans also do. It's a lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteHi Alice. Just popped over to see you from Sam. Lovely poem. I've not come across it before. CT.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! If it was summer I would offer you a seat at the garden table but it is quite damp and cold so I suggest that we settle down in the summer house.
Delete