this…this grips me today
I would like to share this poem by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mary Oliver. I read an interview with her a while back in Oprah magazine and was touched by Mary’s authenticity and gentle approach to life. She’s always taken her time. She lives in a forest. She fell in love with her agent Molly and they lived together for 40 years until Molly’s death in 2005. Her poem The Journey is my favourite. My ginger thoughts, this morning, below…
Photo by Michela Heim
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice-
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.
I read it this morning and felt I could breath again. I’m not sure if it registers the same way with you as it does for me. Good poetry, though, I think speaks to an ancient, intuitive side that can’t be explained or fully communicated with words (ironically). Like smells. It simply grips – the heart or the gut or the little, scared speck of yourself that’s in there somewhere. Immediately.
For me, though, the feeling that gripped my little speck solidified a very big decision I’ve just made.
I’m striding deeper and I don’t care for the shouting voices. My favourite line, that one that garners a spike of strength in my being is:
“It was already late enough”…
You?
Ah, Mary Oliver poetry is sublime. I love The Summer Day, especially the line “tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” It speaks to me so loudly as not only a general reminder, but specifically to help me regain perspective on what is important. I have it placed somewhere visible on a daily basis…
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Oh, yes. I love that line.
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Thank you so much for sharing this poem! This is exactly what I needed to inspire me to continue pursuing my own journey. I also love “Wild Geese” – “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.”
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YES!
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That’s so beautiful Sarah, thank you for sharing and completely changing my morning
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The stillness of the photo is very moving. Captures the poem perfectly.
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November 10th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Correct! Stillness…
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We are all given exactly what we need, when we need it … this morning I was given this poem
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So true. One day I thought, well those doubts/judgements aren’t going anywhere so I might as well begin.
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thanks Sarah, this certainly resonates with me…I was just sprung tissue in hand gazing at my screen at work. All the best with the big decision you have just made. I dread the second-guessing doubtful aftermath of big decisions; how lovely that this poem reinforces your mind.
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November 10th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Thank you Selena. I never second guess after. I’m just terribly indecisive in the lead-up.
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This poem is beautiful, I read it out loud, slowly and purposefully. The last line…just gets me.
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Oh, that is amazing. I have printed this poem and now have it on the wall above my desk. I love “and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own..” Beautiful…
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November 10th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Mine’s on my fridge. x
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I always admire people who can make big decisions rather than waiting for the decision to come to them.
I’m guessing you’re packing up life in Aust and relocating overseas. When you first moved to Bryon, it was “for now” and perhaps now you’ve done the tv show and the book is near completion, it’s time to move on. Either that or you’re going to have a baby!
Whatever it is, good luck.
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This spoke to me, it resonated deep into my bones.
I needed this today.
Many many thanks Sarah, for sharing
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Sarah, I just received an email asking me to renew subscription to your website. Is this legit?
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November 10th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Yep…but I’m fixing this…it’s annoying
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November 10th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Not annoying at all. I just wanted to make sure it was legit and not spam!
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I know..you’re going to host the Today show instead of Lisa Wilkinson! LOL
But gorgeous poem and Mary is a gem of a writer. Thanks for sharing
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I love that poem. I’m at a crossroads, not sure how to proceed but the universe is giving me signs! Like this one!
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November 10th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Me too – funny how the universe works, isn’t it? Thank you Sarah for helping to reaffirm a decision to break away from a path that was making me sick and start to listen to that ‘new voice’.
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Yes. Feels like this was written about me! Yet this is so many peoples’ journeys, it comforts me and is such a good reminder for me right now. I’ve been feeling closed off, stuck, and stagnant. This reminds me where I’ve been and gently nudges me forward.
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Mmmm I am going to take this post as my third sign!
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Thank you.
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Oh…wow! Thank you for bringing this to my consciousness. Its perfect for me in this moment of my journey. You are so right – ‘It was already late enough’
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thank you! perfect timing!
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Amen! “but you didn’t stop” is my favorite line. You can’t stop when you know there’s something so yummy and delicious on the other side and that’s your life. Love this poem! Thanks for sharing it. ~ hugs
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Sarah– perhaps you know this one as well? It’s my most recent “pocket poem”. Don’t be afraid of life’s plenty… maybe the best advice ever.
Don’t Hesitate
— Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the
case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
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I had the line
‘What will you do with your one wild and precious life’ on my desktop as a single text file to be opened regularly – but I had no idea where it came from. Thank you for posting, which has revealed the answer. What a wonderful poet she is!
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Wow….such powerful words….thank you Sarah for sharing….Universe speaking to me today as well. I have made a decision to follow a certain path today, one that will I hope invovlve healing and revealing.A little apprehensive but excited.Will be printing and keeping this poem where I can read it daily, thank you again. Namaste
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