Messenger...

Messenger
by Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird —
    equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

 

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
    keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,

 

which is mostly standing still and learning to be
    astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,

 

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

    and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy

    to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is

    that we live forever.

...from THIRST

Comments

[Karissa Sorrell]

"My work is loving the world." Oh what a fantastic line! "my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished" Amazing!

[Patsy]

Love Mary Oliver...and love this poem. Are you familiar with The Swan? Another amazing piece. "Let me keep my mind on what matters" ...what a lovely thought to tuck in my pocket like a shell to keep always. Thank you for this Saturday gift.

[Shelia]

Karissa. Her wordcraft is startling in its simplicity and its ability to distill the very essence of things.

Patsy, a kindred spirit she...and we. I just read The Swan. Piercing and lovely. "a perfect commotion of silk and linen", "a shrill dark music". Gorgeous! "And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?" Yes. Yes I did. :)

[Julie B]

Love this, Shelia, and gracias for including the photo! My camera recently gave out, so even though I didn't want to spend the dinero on a new one right now, I know I must! :)

[jewelry store]

good words,i like it!thank u!