Sometimes even Mary Oliver has to get a little firm.

The Poet With His Face in His Hands

You want to cry aloud for your
mistakes. But to tell the truth the world
doesn’t need any more of that sound.

So if you’re going to do it and can’t
stop yourself, if your pretty mouth can’t
hold it in, at least go by yourself across

the forty fields and the forty dark inclines
of rocks and water to the place where
the falls are flinging out their white sheets

like crazy, and there is a cave behind all that
jubilation and water-fun and you can
stand there, under it, and roar all you

want and nothing will be disturbed, you can
drip with despair all afternoon and still,
on a green branch, its wings just lightly touched

by the passing foil of the water, the thrush,
puffing out its spotted breast, will sing
of the perfect, stone-hard beauty of everything.

* * *

I’m not sure I’ve considered the words “stone-hard” and “beauty” right next to each other before. This poem makes me think of a song in the musical “Six” – the one sung by Jane Seymour about her love for Henry, a love so real and unshakeable she says she has a heart of stone. Check it out… the most beautiful song in the musical, I think, and perhaps one of the most beautiful in musical theater ever. Here’s the version sung by the Broadway cast alternates, which has its own poignance…

You’ve got a good heart
But I know it changes
A restless tide, untamable
You came my way, and I knew a storm could come too
You’d lift me high, or let me fall
But I took your hand, promised I’d withstand
Any blaze you blew my way
‘Cause something inside, it solidified
And I knew I’d always stay

You can build me up, you can tear me down
You can try but I’m unbreakable
You can do your best, but I’ll stand the test
You’ll find that I’m unshakeable
When the fire’s burnt
When the wind has blown
When the water’s dried, you’ll still find stone
My heart of stone

You say we’re perfect
A perfect family
You hold us close, for the world to see
And when I say you’re the only one I’ve ever loved
I mean those words truthfully
But I know
Without my son your love could disappear
I know it isn’t fair, but I don’t care
‘Cause my love, will still be here

You can build me up, you can tear me down
You can try but I’m unbreakable
You can do your best, but I’ll stand the test
You’ll find that I’m unshakeable
When the fire’s burnt
The wind has blown
The water’s dried, you’ll still find stone
My heart of stone

Soon I’ll have to go
I’ll never see him grow
But I hope my son will know
He’ll never be alone
‘Cause like a river runs dry
And leaves its scars behind
I’ll be by your side
‘Cause my love
Is set in stone

*      *      *

Photos from Antiques & Garden Show, Nashville, February 2025

 

 

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