May 11, 2005

Wild Geese

Martin, Jeni and I are reading poetry to dad this morning and thought you might enjoy this favorite of of all of ours.

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

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.

Posted by Dani at May 11, 2005 11:16 AM

that's such a lovely thought - thanks for sharing. :)

Posted by: ginevra at May 11, 2005 12:05 PM

Welcome back, Dani. It is a lovely poem --thanks for writing.
Marilyn

Posted by: Marilyn at May 11, 2005 12:30 PM

Beautiful, just beautiful. You know, it was poetry and prose like this posted here, the stories that Donel wove with them, that made us know right away we were at home at FCCB more than 20 years ago. I am so grateful for the poems and poetry seekers here. They comfort me.

Love, Marilee

Posted by: Marilee at May 11, 2005 01:56 PM

Thank you Dani for sharing this lovely thought. Your family is in my prayers.

Posted by: Nancy at May 11, 2005 02:06 PM

Donel's sermons are consistently laced with appropriate and illuminating bits from literature; poetry, prose, and biography. That is what we have enjoyed the most about Donel's preaching --- that, coupled with the fact that the material chosen has always right on point. And, with Donel's sermons, there is always a purpose and point, and it is not hard to find and to take home for more thought.

Posted by: Larry and Mariolyn Richardson at May 11, 2005 02:59 PM

Thank you for sharing this lovely poem and for letting us know that you are all gathered at your Dad's side.

Posted by: Linda at May 11, 2005 03:02 PM
Comments are now closed, thank you.