Mary Oliver is one of my favourite poets and I try not to miss too many opportunities to share her work. She has such a way of revealing the extra-ordinary in ordinary events. Those events have deeper meaning that sometimes escapes our view when we do not ask questions that allow us to dig deeper.
“After rain after many days without rain,
it stays cool, private and cleansed, under the trees,
and the dampness there, married now to gravity,
falls branch to branch, leaf to leaf, down to the ground
where it will disappear — but not, of course, vanish
except to our eyes. The roots of the oaks will have their share,
and the white threads of the grasses, and the cushion of moss;
a few drops, round as pearls, will enter the mole’s tunnel;
and soon so many small stones, buried for a thousand years,
will feel themselves being touched.”
~ Mary Oliver
This is an amazing poem, I love the part of the moles, and the part of “married now to gravity”. Indeed beautiful.
By Maria F. on October 9, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Mary Oliver has such a wonderful way of capturing what we miss so often in words that are indescribable.
By ivonprefontaine on October 9, 2014 at 5:31 pm
I really must get hold of some of Mary Oliver’s work. Several blogs I follow refer or quote from her writings and she definitely seems to have some magic in her words. Do you have any particular books you could recommend, Ivon?
By Vicki on October 9, 2014 at 11:42 pm
Why I Wake Early and Thirst are two that I acquired early. Check out the site at http://maryoliver.beacon.org/publications/ for a complete list and summary of each book.
By ivonprefontaine on October 10, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Thanks Ivon.
By Vicki on October 10, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Really beautiful Ivon.
By The Other Side of Ugly - Letters to Humanity on October 10, 2014 at 1:05 am
Beautiful!
By Catherine Johnson on October 10, 2014 at 9:38 am
Thank you Catherine.
By ivonprefontaine on October 10, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Thank you for introducing me to Mary Oliver!
By JoAnn Chateau on October 10, 2014 at 5:07 pm
You are welcome. She is a wonderful poet.
By ivonprefontaine on October 10, 2014 at 10:51 pm
I’m a bit new to this poetry stuff so thank you for pointing the way to what seems to be a kindred spirit to me. And even providing a link to her works. You are a kind man, Ivon.
By thewingedwoman on October 11, 2014 at 2:21 am
Thank you and you are welcome.
By ivonprefontaine on October 11, 2014 at 6:35 pm