You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
A heartfelt thanks to my friend Terri at Windlost for introducing me to Mary Oliver. Love this!
4 comments:
Just checking in to say I hope all is well with you. Love this piece ... and it is so true. No matter what, the world goes on, and we are left to love - or not to. Summer is almost over --enjoy the last few weeks! Lyn
Thank you Lyn. I am already back to school but it is good to have other distractions right now. Summer seems to be clearly over in the north where I live and fall has made itself know.
And the world goes on. xo
I have decided to delete my blog in order to find time for other writing projects. However I intend to visit you and others from time to time.
I have learnt some good things from reading your blog.
....and it's been fun too!
Rob
hey there... i went to visit your other blog and noticed you went private. hope everything is okay!
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