Poetry Friday
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.Mary Oliver
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Sometimes the ‘enemy’ we hear is inside us and we must force the bad out and rejoice in the good with gratefulness.
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gorgeous poem – as a mother juggling the demands of small children and work, this poem really spoke to me today.
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love the poem and the accompanying picture
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I adore Mary Oliver!
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Terrific poem today Marie
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again, you have selected the perfect poem to heal my day.
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determined to save the only life you could save…
we forget this – that healing begins with ourselves first – only then, can we begin to reach out and help others.
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what a moving and inspiring poem!
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though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice
These lines spoke to me very much. I have a lot of voices around me, who think they know what is best for me but really we must listen to that one true voice deep inside of ourselves – we all have that voice but it can be drowned out by the louder competing voices in the world. Thanks for reminding me to go within today and listen again to that one true voice.
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I have never heard of this poet, but after reading your choice of poem today I went online and bought myself a book of her poetry – thank you for introducing me to her 🙂
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great choice of poem today!
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you have ignited a love of poetry in me that I didn’t even know existed – thank you for enriching my life
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Paula_98 it is such a joy for me to read your words and know that some of the deep pleasure I get from reading poetry has rubbed off on you too 🙂
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I thought poetry was way beyond me but your choice of poetry each week has shown me how much I have been missing out on til now
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I always choose poems that speak to me and for that they have to be accessible! So once again, thank you for your kind words.
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I absolutely agree with paula_98 – your poems brighten up my week and give me something to ponder on all week. I look forward to this feature every friday thank you.
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