Poetry Friday
Continuing to find resonance and comfort in the poetry of Mary Oliver.
Morning Poem
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches —
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead —
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging —
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted —
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
~ Mary Oliver ~
Beautiful and so happy you posted it for us. Thinking of you. xxx
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thank you Debbie xxxx
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And if your spirit/ carries within it / the thorn / that is heavier than lead
What a stunning line. Oliver is truly a gifted poet.
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Another beautiful poem from Mary Oliver – thank you for sharing such exquisite poetry each week.
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Very moved by the lines:
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
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I look forward each Friday to your poetry choices – you never disappoint!
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I loved this one and am going to share it on FB & Twitter. Hope your mornings are created anew.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
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Thank you Marie for the inspiration! “If we dare to be happy” indicates a choice. I needed that today. As always a great big long distant hug!
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