It's me, Hannah, here to share a new-to-me, (within the last couple of years), favorite poet!!
A friend of mine read one of Mary's poems during the moment for creation portion of our faith community's service and I was transported to nature and her words brought a thrill of joy to my core.
It was a verbal unveiling. So magical.
I can't remember which poem it was and I had a heck of a time choosing just one to share...my cup overflows with adoration for so many of her works...
So I spun the wheel and landed on this beauty.
The Summer Day
Mary Oliver
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.
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.
Please, continue with the second half...
And/or here's the poem read in its entirety by the poet.
Can I tell you why I love Mary Oliver's poetry?
I love the delicate balance of inner monologue and her reflections on the natural world. I adore the way she poses questions to her reader, drawing them in thoughtfully to grow and expand. It's like an invitation...a hand extended, to meet with her in an intimate, meditative moment.
Her poetry breaks the barriers of time and distance and draws one into an eternal now space, a place of oneness and unity within humanity and nature.
Thank you all, so much, for taking a Mary Oliver moment with me!! Warm smiles to all. :)
22 comments:
perhaps my favorite Mary Oliver poem, Hannah...
She's intense in a very relaxed way... fills one's mind with a ton of images, thoughts, questions - yet doesn't overwhelm. Rather contradicting description, I suppose. I like how she flutters from one topic to another... yet the detailed observation of the grasshopper to "what is a prayer" is just perfect! Thank you for selecting her.
Reflective in a conversation with the self! thank you for sharing this piece
What a wonderful way to start my day --my favorite poet! I think no poem strikes me morethan Wild Swans.
Love this comparison human with grasshopper,detailed description sounds so fresh, and questions followed about life suggest to continue and ...just be here alive on the earth for our unique life experience...~ Thanks for sharing, Hannah
Thanks for serving up my favorite poet for breakfast. This is one of her greatest for the reasons you say. I really like the recording, too. Think I'll listen again.
Thank you Hannah! I enjoyed your description as much as the poem~
She was the poet I discovered on the edge of being an adult. I found her messages and questions insightful and what I needed to hear! Thank you Hannah-her words are a gift!
I've never read this Oliver poem before. Thank you for sharing it. I really enjoyed it. I love her appreciation for Nature and how she draws the reader in. Nice choice.
I really love this poem that you shared, Hannah! I had read it before, but I enjoyed so very much the reread! So much meaning within.
This is a new one for me. I really enjoyed it, Hannah.
love!
... 'your one wild and precious life' ~~ a profound way to end her poem. Thank you so much for sharing Mary with us.
Such a poem is a gift. There is no better way I know how to describe words which fill you up for free. I have also come lately to Mary Oliver's work, and I have a deep admiration for her style, and the way she works her concepts into words.
Mary Oliver - I just borrowed her "Why I Wake Up Early" from the library. Seemingly effortless, and yet such great craft. She has a delicacy that makes me understand why you love her, Hannah, and why I got the volume to learn more of this quality, one I generally lack. A
Mary Oliver is one of my favorites too Hannah ~ Thanks for sharing this piece ~
I can see why she is your new favorite poet, Hannah. I love the final lines of the poem:
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"
She reaffirms my belief that the world is wonderful and beautiful and should be regarded as such, not blasted and mined and polluted and killed, and also that a person who sees it only as a financial opportunity is missing so much in "one wild and precious life"!
K
What a great ending and an unbelievable write from beginning to end. I can see why you are in love with her words, thanks for sharing.
I too have become a recent fan of Mary Oliver. This is one of my favorite's by her also. Beautiful choice Hannah!
Beautiful Hannah!
I'm a big fan of Mary Oliver! You've picked a great poem. Thanks.
She is my all time favourite too Hannah! LOVED this one!
What a true joy it is to arrive and find so many poetic friends equally enthralled by Mary Oliver!! I'm so glad that you all enjoyed reading/listening to her and thank you so much for being present for this special moment taken to shine the light on such a gift. ♥ Much appreciated.
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