Mary Oliver, one of my many favourite poets, speaks often of our relationship both to and in nature. We are not separate from nature, but a part of it and relate to all its elements, sentient and non-sentient. We relate to nature and all its elements as a participant and not an external, passive observer.
Our observations are not something we can full grasp and write down. The closest we come is expressing what we feel in writing poetry and sharing photography.
Quite often, we are dumb to what happens around us. Other moments, we awake and soak it in through all our senses, embodying what the fox tells us and feeling so close to what we experience in those moments.
Listen says fox it is music to run
over the hills to lick
dew from the leaves to nose along
the edges of the ponds to smell the fat
ducks in their bright feathers but
far out, safe in their rafts of
sleep. It is like
music to visit the orchard, to find
the vole sucking the sweet of the apple, or the
rabbit with his fast-beating heart. Death itself
is a music. Nobody has ever come close to
writing it down, awake or in a dream. It cannot
be told. It is flesh and bones
changing shape and with good cause, mercy
is a little child beside such an invention. It is
music to wander the black back roads
outside of town no one awake or wondering
if anything miraculous is ever going to
happen, totally dumb to the fact of every
moment’s miracle. Don’t think I haven’t
peeked into windows. I see you in all your seasons
making love, arguing, talking about God
as if he were an idea instead of the grass,
instead of the stars, the rabbit caught
in one good teeth-whacking hit and brought
home to the den. What I am, and I know it, is
responsible, joyful, thankful. I would not
give my life for a thousand of yours.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
“Death itself is a music. Nobody has ever come close to writing it down, awake or in a dream. It cannot be told”—> Beautifully said!…. Great post!~ Thanks for sharing and best wishes ton you. Aquileana ⭐
You are welcome and thank you Aquileana.
Wonderfully written. Blessed.
Thank you.
As if he were an idea instead of the grass… oh I needed some Mary Oliver tonight. Thank you.
You are welcome David and thank you for the comment.
Great post to ponder on a Sunday morning.
I enjoy a Mary Oliver poem many days.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of Mary, she is one the best poets and if we could all remember we are part of nature, perhaps we would treat her with more respect. >3
You are welcome. I agree with you lovely comment.
I couldn’t agree with you more about nature. Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem too!
You are welcome and thank you.
…arguing, talking about God as if he were an idea instead of the grass …
My favorite part of this beautiful post. Yes we are far to often sleep walkers. And when we are awake, isn’t it interesting that we create art with the one that we are. Its as if everything we see is so amazing we just don’t know how to truly capture it. Even the amazing cruelty of the harsh winds and winter storms. I loved this Ivon. Thank you.
This poem is proof that Mary Oliver deserves her rank among America;’s best poets. Thanks for posting this and for the wonderful comments. 🙂
She definitely is amongst the best. You are welcome and thank you Carol.
You are welcome and thank you Sheri for a wonderful comment.
Wonderful Ivan — Mary is one of my favs too! “I would not give my life for 1000 of yours” — I must be living rightly, because this is exactly how I have felt for so much of mine. Blessings and keep these beauties coming, Alia
Thank you Alia.
How lovely, Ivon.
and I just realized from your name that your family is likely French-Canadian originally. Is it?