This morning (my birthday) I was reading some poetry to my wife outside under our lovely birch tree in our front yard. Sitting under this tree has been the launching pad for some of our most stimulating conversations. With a cup of coffee or glass of wine, an endless line of wonderful friends have sat with us under this colossal tree over the years. It reminds me of what Eden must have been like.
Anyway, I stumbled upon this next passage, which captured my thoughts about aging and stirred in me a bit of an existential moment.
From the Epilogue of Mary Oliver’s book entitled Thirst.
“…Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books past the hour and the bell; grant me, in your mercy, a little more time. Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart. Who knows what will finally happen or where I will be sent, yet already I have given a great many things away, expecting to be told to pack nothing, except the prayers which, with this thirst, I am slowly learning.”
Oliver has touched me with her skillful, almost magical use of words. Note the phrase in italics – beautiful. I am not sure whether the epilogue speaks to where I am or where I long to be, but I am moved nonetheless.
I love it! XD
Thanks my love!
I am not much of a poetry reader…but have enjoyed having you read these to me my dear and especially liked the same phrase. A few pleasant moments to savor this morning on your birthday…a day I am very thankful for.
Thanks for dropping in Rick. Mary Oliver is a word weaver. I have been so taken in by this particular book entitled Thirst.
“Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart.”
That is a nice turn of phase and expresses so much about my own journey. Made it to my journal and I’m sure it will get some future use.