Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Messenger

My work is loving the world,
here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird...

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect?  Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug up clam,
telling them also, over and over, how it is
that we live forever......


Mary Oliver ---- Thirst

Oh, her words always speak to my heart
Especially this early morning.

All is well
God is Good.....

19 comments:

Nancy said...

I just read your latest postings. The comments were all so supportive and true. Sorry you are encountering a rough path. Because you do share honestly, many do care.
Hugs :)

Sallysmom said...

I was concerned that you hadn't posted in a while. Do you need to move back closer to your daughter and the grands? You need to be safe and happy.

Sharon said...

I am grateful Mary Oliver shares her wisdom. Her poems remind me of what really matters. Thank you so much for sharing this morning ~

Pienosole said...

Beautiful and enlightening words...
Thinking of you and wishing you well.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Pienosole, Sharon and Nancy :)
Sallysmom, no plans to move :)

Lonely Rivers said...

More wisdom from my sweet mom's writings. " it is fall and I feel my spirits sinking with each leaf that drops from my sturdy tree. I mourn each loss knowing that unlike the tree I may not bloom afresh after a long winter. And yet as I acknowledge each personal loss: my family scattered around the world, my friends ill and dying, my youthful energy and optimism diminished,I can't help but remind myself, that I am a lucky woman. I have loved and been loved.i have done what I wanted. I can still see beauty and I can still speak truth. But damn I wish I could still climb that tree."
She lived 14 years after writing that. She was 91 when she died.
Thinking of you and sending you love.

lil red hen said...

What wonderful words for us! Sounds just like you would have written it.

Also loved the words from Lonely Rivers' mom.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Lonely Rivers, you will never know what your mom's words meant to me.
She must have been about my age when she wrote them.
Sounds like me
and wonder with a birthday
next week
am I going to make it until 91.
Thank you again.
Dear Charlotte, thank you :)

Judi said...

I feel so blessed to have found your blog. I recently ordered two of Mary Oliver's poetry books after seeing them listed as bedside reading of yours. thx for sharing yourself with us all.

Balisha said...

Another gem from Mary Oliver. I hope that you are doing better. I know how hard it is to see something that you have tended so lovingly, not look the way you want it to. Just think that winter will soon be here and your beloved woods will be covered in snow. In the spring, when things start to awaken, maybe you will be able to do some tending there. Isn't it hard to understand that all we want to do is work in our gardens...not take trips or leave our homes very much?
Just take care and heal...so that next spring you can do what you love.
Balisha

Beverly said...

glad it is a better day.... today was a good day!

the wild magnolia said...

((hugs)) hope you are on the mend and an upward swing. I love Mary Oliver's writings.....she writes so well I think, because she spends time alone in nature, and pays attention.

Judy said...

Beautiful poem--you always find just the right one to post. God IS good! All is right with the world. We will heal, moving ever forward, but slower now--which is a good thing, so we can observe what for many years we were too busy to see.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Judi,thank you.
Balisha, so true - home is where are heart is.
Beverly, :
Judy, Mary Oliver is the best
Sandy, :)

Friko said...

Mary Oliver - a wonderful poet.

Wisewebwoman said...

I'm patiently waiting for my "shouts of joy".
They will come.
They always do.
to me and you.

XO
WWW

Laura said...

one of my all time favorites!

Sky said...

:) so glad to learn that mary oliver is in better health now and has a new book out. she's doing readings in nyc, denver, and san francisco over the next couple of months. wish i were closer to one of those locations. new book is titled dog songs - bet you'll like it. check it out on amazon.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Friko, WWW, Sky, and (dear Laura healing prayers sent your way),
everyone thank you for visiting...