What can I say that I have not said before?
So I'll say it again.
The leaf has a song in it,
Stone is the face of patience,
Inside the river there is an unfinishable story
and you are somewhere in it
and it will never end until it ends.
Take your busy heart to the art museum and the
chamber of commerce,
but take it also to the forest.
The song you heard singing in the leaf
when you were a child
is singing still.
I am of years lived, so far, seventy-four,
and the leaf is singing still.
What Can I Say?
by
Mary Jane Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019) was an American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and the National Book Award in 1992. She found inspiration for her work in nature and had a lifelong habit of solitary walks in the wild. Her poetry is characterized by wonderment at the natural environment, vivid imagery, and unadorned language. In 2007, she was declared the best-selling poet in the United States.
Beautiful photos and such a lovely poem, Denise! Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you my dear, happy you enjoyed them :)
DeleteMary Oliver knew what she was talking about : )
ReplyDeleteShe certainly did, a very wise lady in so many ways :)
DeleteA lovely poem and photos. It's looking like fall in your area
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann, every so slowly :)
DeleteOf course, that would be Mary Oliver. I shouldn’t have doubted it. 👍
ReplyDeleteYes, she has a style that I have learned to recognize :)
DeleteSo True So True and I LOVE IT...
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Thank you Sandra n Beau, so glad you do :)
DeleteOur daughter enjoyed Oliver's poetry.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, I have known about her for several years now and I think I have almost every one of her books of poetry :)
DeleteI can almost hear the crunch of the leaves in your first photo. Poetry in general is a hard sell but Oliver managed to touch hearts with her words.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about that photo Penelope :) I know what you mean but she has a way of bringing nature to me and that has appealed since I first read one of her poems.
DeleteMary had some excellent suggestions. We all need to be more observant and appreciative of what is right in front of us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday
Hugs cecilia
She certainly did and I couldn't agree more Cecilia :) Thank you, a Happy Friday to you also and sending hugs, Denise xo
DeleteTotally enjoy Mary Oliver's poems!
ReplyDeleteSo glad Angie, I seem to love every one of her poems :)
DeleteNature is our greatest strength.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards to you.
Beautifully worded Viola, thank you and warm regard to you also :)
DeleteA lovely post Denise ... thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
You are very welcome Jan, and so glad you enjoyed it. All the best to you too, Denise xo
DeleteBeautiful words! ( I love poetry) I have to say that I’m really looking forward to the colours of autumn! Hope you are having a happy weekend! Sal ( Sal’s Snippets) 😁
ReplyDeleteWe share a love of poetry Sal, I have enjoyed it since I was a child. We are having a lovely weekend thank you and I hope you are too :)
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