“Morning Poem” by Mary Oliver
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches—
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead—
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging—
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted—
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
__________________________________________________________
Shadow/Light – Do the darker times in our life allow us to appreciate the joy more?
Photos and reflection by Denise P.
_______________________________________________________________
Dried marsh grasses… long shadows
My original intention today was to focus on joy… “dare to be happy”, as Mary Oliver had written. I actually prefer the word joy to the word happy — the term “joy” seems to be less fleeting to me…. it represents to me a deep inner joy and peace even when the environment and circumstances are less than happy. But early in my walk I noticed the amazing shadows and light, and I thought about the shadow and dark … the mystery, the hidden, the unknown. How can I better find the joy in that mystery and unknown? And I was reminded that we cannot see the light if we don’t also have dark and shadow. We need them both… and all the shades in between.
I savored the light and shadows amongst the trees for a standing meditation…
Stillness caresses,
Sun and shadow live and breathe.
Wonder in this place.
Distant roaring sea,
Cold hands, warmth on face,
One with light, shadow, Divine.
Photos, reflection and poetry by Nancy L.
walkinginwonderhcfm 