Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for –
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world –
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant –
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these –
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
~~ Mary Oliver ~~
I like the way how the stanza is separated between sentence. Genius.
Hi Perpetua – Thanks for noticing that…and for commenting. 🙂
a new and wonderful Mary Oliver poem – ah, thank you!
Hi Vicki – Yes, another wonderful Mary Oliver poem. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Loved it!
🙂
“the prayers that are made out of grass.” Wham! God, I love her.
Hi Sandy Sue – I love that line too… 🙂
This is is my favourite Mary Oliver poem. Thank you for the wonderful post.
I love this poem as well. Thank you for commenting… 🙂