Monday, July 2, 2012

What Is There Beyond Knowing?

What is there beyond knowing that keeps
calling to me? I can’t

turn in any direction
but it’s there. I don’t mean

the leaves’ grip and shine or even the thrush’s
silk song, but the far-off

fires, for example,
of the stars, heaven’s slowly turning

theater of light, or the wind
playful with its breath;

or time that’s always rushing forward,
or standing still

in the same—what shall I say—
moment.

What I know
I could put into a pack

as if it were bread and cheese, and carry it
on one shoulder,

important and honorable, but so small!
While everything else continues, unexplained

and unexplainable. How wonderful it is
to follow a thought quietly

to its logical end.
I have done this a few times.

But mostly I just stand in the dark field,
in the middle of the world, breathing

in and out. Life so far doesn’t have any other name
but breath and light, wind and rain.

If there’s a temple, I haven’t found it yet.
I simply go on drifting, in the heaven of the grass and the weeds.




Mary Oliver

2 comments:

  1. Yes, quite without intention, our minds busy and hearts grieving, our eyes may even be weeping, but our body, our flesh just goes on breathing, without choice until finally one day without choice it will just stop. Maybe then we'll understand why.

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  2. Beautiful words. A response:

    Willingness is your second breathing:
    Bring your attention to it;
    and you will realise that even when you feel stuck
    or hopeless,
    your willingness continues
    to carry your life

    Kindness is a friend
    you may meet along your way

    (Simon Williams 12.6.12)

    https://seedmind.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/willingness-is-your-secon-3/

    ReplyDelete