Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
~ Mary Oliver
I took the photo at Mesa Verde this summer. The picture and the poem, The Summer Day, both remind me that life is wide, precious, and far too brief. I have to say, though... I do know how to pray. And I know just who made the world, the brown bear, and the grasshopper.
20 comments:
Read more Mary Oliver, that's what I'm going to do with my one precious life :) And Mary does pray, the poet's way, by paying attention...
Happy Sunday to you and yours Relyn xx
Beautiful. Caught up in mundane things and challenges we forget the gift of life is precious.
So so true. Life is fleeting and we must grab onto every precious moment like there is no tomorrow.
Bisous,
Melissa
I love Mary Oliver's poems. Whenever I read one unaware of who the author is, I always smile when I see her name. It goes without saying that her poems speak to me. Thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning.
Life is far too brief. So true.
Thank you for your ever so sweet comment.
I've always liked her ending question.
Ditto what S. Etole just said.
I had a yoga teacher who would say lines to this poem as the class went along. She adored Mary Oliver. It was a very charming way to learn the poem and practice yoga.
I love the lilt of her questions
and the wonder in her open pen.
And I join you in applause,
grinning wildly with gratitude
to the genius Love behind it all!
We love you Maker and Lover of us all:)
-Jennifer
I know I must live my wild and precious life with as few regrets as possible, then someday in a far, far away time, I will float away.
Very nice. Life is short, time to enjoy it more.
Thanks for the reminder.
xo jj
You know, I've never read that whole poem? I've always just known the last two lines!
Perhaps my most favorite poem, especially due to that last line... it really is a kick in the pants! Thanks to that line, and more Mary Oliver poems too, it's given me course to be more bold with my life. She truly inspires every time! Thank you for today, Relyn :o) ((HUGS))
I love the poem. It has so much truth in it and so much to think about. I enjoy slowing down to appreciate the little things; like the grasshopper that we most usually complain about. There is beauty and awe in everything about us.
So many thoughts and considerations this past week about what to do with this fleeting fragile life. Thanksgiving certainly is the time that these questions arise. Hope yours was a lovely one Relyn!
xo Mary Jo
I, too, visited Mesa Verde, stunned by all I learned, all I felt, and all I imagined. It reminded me that my life (like that of the grasshopper) was so small in the vastness of time and creation...and yet so precious in the small space of now that I fill.
The words...'Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?' is particularly poignant to me this week.
I'd love to press "Pause" on my life and stay here in this happy, beautiful, contented zone. . .Beautiful thoughts in poetry. Thanks, Friend!
Oh how I love Mary Oliver! And poetry. And you too. Your comment made me cry. Happy Holiday season, Relyn!
Kirsten
I know as well. That's a beautiful poem, my friend.
I love this poem. I only recently discovered Mary Oliver.
Thank you for sharing.
Another awesome poem Relyn, thanks for sharing...u are doing a great job with your one precious life, enriching it and those of so many others :)
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