Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sunday Morning Poetry

the tree

How Would You Live Then?

What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks
flew in circles around your head? What if
the mockingbird came into the house with you and
became your advisor? What if
the bees filled your walls with honey and all
you needed to do was ask them
and they would fill
the bowl? What if the brook slid downhill just
past your bedroom window so you could listen
to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if
the stars began to shout their names, or to run
this way and that way above the clouds? What if
you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves
began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang
from its painted branches? What if
you suddenly saw
that the silver of water was brighter than the silver
of money? What if you finally saw
that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day
and every day — who knows how,
but they do it — were
more precious, more meaningful than gold?
~ Mary Oliver

19 comments:

Scrappy Grams said...

Well, the sunflowers are more precious than gold. Each summer sunflowers sprout in my barrel by the steps of my deck. Such joy I feel when they appear. They started growing there from seeds being dropped by birds. Now, at the end of each growing season I leave the remnants to grow the following summer. God is generous with his gifts!

Debby said...

Sunflowers are the best. They are just happy flowers. Love this poem.

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Three grosbeaks stopped by on their migration yesterday. It was a gift, as is this poem today. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

such a great poem...have a fabulous sunday.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Mary Oliver always shows us what is important and how to slow down...

cristie said...

the perfect collection of "what if's" xox

S. Etole said...

I could dwell in these words for quite some time.

ELK said...

so lyrical .. the poem and image really resonate with me

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

A beautiful poem, and a great reflection!

Doris

Diane said...

Lovely poem. Enjoy the rest of Sunday. Diane

Jessica said...

Lovely!
Poetry is my favorite--especially on Sundays.

Jennifer Richardson said...

oh i love this poem to sink
my teeth into!
Really good questions and the
pictures they paint for my
eyes and soul are deep and
delicious.
I'm richer every Sunday
for coming here:)
-Jennifer

Jeanne said...

I love your poetry
I love you
Jeanne

Tracy said...

Oh, Mary Oliver... She always has just the right was of expressing what the heart runneth-over feeling is... I just love this one! :o) Happy Day, Relyn ((HUGS))

Jeanne said...

http://www.david.sukhin.com/Weather/Snowday/Auto-Snowday.htm

Love and hugs

Marilyn Miller said...

Gorgeous! Bees that filled my bowl with sweetness and brooks that slid past my bedroom window. Pure love!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this! Mary Oliver is such a wonderful poet. Very nourishing.

susanna said...

Sigh...beautiful, beautiful, visually-inspiring post. Love the idea of stars shouting their names and running this way and that way about the clouds.

You know, before blogging, I hadn't heard of Mary Oliver. She has inspired so many bloggers, hasn't she?

I like the last line in her poem, Sleeping in The Forest:
"By morning I had vanished at least a dozen times into something better".

And the first line of her poem, The Humpbacks:

"Listen, whatever it is you try to do with you life, nothing will ever dazzle you like the dreams of your body..."

Unknown said...

I love stopping by Relyn, you always have the most wonderful poems and questions to ponder. Such a nice treat to sit and savor the quiet beauty for a moment. Thank you for providing it here.

xo Mary Jo

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