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.

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





14 comments:

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

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  2. 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

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  3. 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!!!

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  4. Ah, I needed this today...

    ::Deep breath::

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

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  5. 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

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

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

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

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

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  10. For all selfish reasons I am happy you blog.

    Love Renee xoxoxo

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  11. 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!

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  12. 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.

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  13. 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!

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One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passers-by see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way. ~Vincent Van Gogh~ Pull up a chair...

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