Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry




The Peace of Wild Things
By Wendell Berry


When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Your prayer can be poetry, and poetry can be your prayer. ~Noelani Day





14 comments:

Kelly said...

I love this poem, and your dragonfly pictures are wonderful!

Woman in a Window said...

HOly shit, Marion. I was just there, ten minutes ago, where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water. No more forethought. Today.

And it is a wonderful day.

Thank you for this.

(I remember meeting you and how that felt. My day became longer, and not laborious, but it could hold more.)
xo
erin

Marion said...

Thank you for stopping by Kelly. Glad you enjoyed my photo. Love & Blessings!

Erin, I know. I remember when I first read your poetry. It was like coming home to find a friend there who'd been away forever. I still feel that way. I love you and appreciate your friendship. Love & Blessings!!!

Phoenix said...

Ah, I needed this today...

::Deep breath::

Thank you, Marion...for blessing all of us with your sharing of wonderfully uplifting poems.

Anonymous said...

you are always so remarkably comforting. Love the photo and this poem, prayer.
Blessing dear one, I wish you a joyous Xmas.. Blessings, peace and eat LOTS of food and of course. CHOCOLATE lol

HUGS love U
Inky see you soon

RNSANE said...

That is such a wonderful poem. Thanks, Marion, for bringing it to us.

Karen said...

This might be my new favorite poem. It says exactly what I feel. Thank you for sharing, Marion.

Delwyn said...

Thank you Marion for this lovely poem today. I hope that you are feeling better too.
Happy days

Serena said...

Beautiful poem and a beautiful picture. I hope you're feeling better!

Renee said...

For all selfish reasons I am happy you blog.

Love Renee xoxoxo

Angie Muresan said...

Such a beautiful poem and photo.

Marion said...

Wow, I'm so happy you all enjoyed Mr. Berry's awesome poem---it's one of my favorites, too, and it expressed exactly what I was feeling that day.

I know that most people post their own poetry and I try to sprinkle mine in now and then, but I have a problem with criticism (it destroys me)which is probably why I don't send my babies out for publication.....AND I do own over 200 books of poetry and I love, love, love sharing it with you all. I'm feeling a little better. Every day is a challenge. I love you all and appreciate your kind words and friendship. Blessings!

Wine and Words said...

I love the part about not taxing life with forethought. I do that way too often. This was such a lovely poem. It was almost as calming as the wild things themselves. Thanks Marion.

Marion said...

Yes, Annie. What some call forethought, I call mind-fucking of which I am queen. It's a scourge on my brain. You and I have much in common. I'm so happy the poem calmed you.

Poetry is such magic. I only wish more people read it and bought the books. I went to Books a Million a few weeks ago and the poetry section had shrunk from about 6 shelves to a tiny 3 shelves, crammed in between romance shit and manga. It's a travesty, a sin against the English language. We NEED Poetry!!! Love & Blessings!