The grass in my yard crunches underfoot, yellow as straw in some places. Pepper rouses small tornadoes of dust as she chases the squirrels. Yet the trees remain mostly green heading into October – a dry green, a stubborn green – full of vitality even though some few leaves brown early and fall in the heat. Today’s poem by Mary Oliver says exactly what I feel…
When I Am Among the Trees
By Mary Oliver
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.”
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Thank you, Brainpickings.org, for sending this poem to my in-box. To hear Amanda Palmer read the poem at Brainpickings, click here.
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And – Matt Osborne reminds me of another thoughtful meditation on The Trees –
October 1, 2019 at 6:02 am
Lovely
October 1, 2019 at 6:48 am
I love Brainpickings too! Such lovely thoughts this hot morning. xo
October 1, 2019 at 4:38 pm
I am crazy about Brainpickings! So neat to know that you love it too, Beth! I’m always so happy to hear from you – xoxo
October 1, 2019 at 7:14 am
Thank you
October 1, 2019 at 4:37 pm
xoxo
October 1, 2019 at 7:24 am
I love that line “I am so distant from the hope of myself.” Thanks for posting this!
October 1, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Yeah that line got me too… Mary Oliver inspires me to breathe and maybe get closer to the hope… xoxo
October 1, 2019 at 8:02 am
Love this so much, Jennifer! You are always full of surprises– Rush? Who knew?
October 1, 2019 at 4:36 pm
I’m definitely not cool enough for Rush. But I have friends… xoxo!
October 1, 2019 at 8:58 am
ha…Mary Oliver and Geddy Lee…iloveit. this too… http://irisharchaeology.ie/2017/06/trees-and-the-fairy-king-a-poem-from-early-ireland/
October 1, 2019 at 4:36 pm
I love this, Mary Jo! Thank you, friend! xoxo
October 1, 2019 at 9:08 am
Everything is better with Rush.
October 1, 2019 at 4:39 pm
Are we sure? xoxo
October 3, 2019 at 6:24 am
Everything is definitely better with Mary Oliver! And we are sure about that – LOL! Thank you!
October 5, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Well said, Caroline! YES. Xoxo
October 3, 2019 at 6:36 am
And trees, for that matter. (The drought makes me worry about the trees.)