Mary Oliver

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Sarah emailed to invite me to go along to see Mary Oliver at Smith College. I can't believe the day is here. Tonight I will get to hear Mary Oliver speak her poems. I am so excited.

I only became interested in poetry a few years ago. Hand in hand with pursuit of my fine art photography came a deep appreciation and connection to Mary Oliver's work.

She writes so beautifully about nature and even loss/grief. As I worked through my grief of losing my mother, I found deep solace in her words.

I wonder if anyone will look at me twice when I walk in with my extra large tissue box. I am certain I will be moved to tears at least once:)

Do you have a favorite Mary Oliver poem?

This is one of mine:

The Journey

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice - - -

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

'Mend my life!'

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations - - -

though their melancholy

was terrible.It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice,

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do - - - determined to save

the only life you could save.