Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver
5 comments:
Oh it's nice to have more than the last two lines. Thank you.
To live each day to its fullest and love with all my heart holding back nothing.
Love that picture Cait do you know who the artist is?
This goes so well with the Hare. Excellent.
Cait, thank you so much for commenting on my journal. You have put a smile on my face this early morning. I see we have much in common even though worlds away.
I was going to email you but saw not address. I wrote about you this morning on an entry.
Looking forward to reading many of your past entries. Have a good day.
Hot hot in my woods...
Cait, I do love this Mary Oliver poem with its gentle reminder. I also thank you for the introduction to Jemima Jameson. Mr Durer, I have known for a long, long time!
It will be fun to compare notes with you as we both explore having a bit more time to ourselves (though I am still working four days a week.)
Your author recommendations have been noted. I am now reading Mark Haddon's The Red House, and A Fortunate Child, by our mutual friend Elizabeth Wix. Also studying various travel guidebooks.
What a coincidence, our paths both encountering Mr Boetti!
xo
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