Wednesday, July 25, 2012

what i was born for






mindful


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

2 comments:

Pauline said...

fabulous heading - and MO could be speaking of you!

steven said...

pauline - if i can live up to the promise of these words and share that with but one other person, then i would say that something of my purpose in being here, something of the gift that my life represents to me would be fulfilled! steven