My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird —
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
Mary Oliver from Thirst
4 comments:
Oh how I often forget my work.
Mary Oliver is the best.
Love her
Just finished reading the Green and Ancient Light.
Thank you for this special reading time
Now passing on to 11 year old granddaughter
and think she will like it...
was coming on to thank you for turning me on to Frederic Durbin, and now see someone else agrees! have you read Maggie Stiefvater - Raven boys series and Scorpio Races - very magical ~ nature mysticism... hope your journey to health is going well thank you, Elaine
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