Poetry Thursday -When I Am Among the Trees

Who could not love a day like today, with its brilliant blue sky, crisp breeze with just a hint of chill, and most of all, the trees hung with their great scarlet and gold medallions. And yet, in spite of all this beauty, it was a day of great weariness for me. One of those inexplicable days when the soul is heavy and the body even wearier. I dragged myself home after a late afternoon rehearsal, threw myself into my softest easy chair, and picked up the book on the table beside me. I opened it to these words of perfect beauty and simplicity. And while the second stanza pierced my heart with it's truth, I was comforted by the sage advice of the last - "it's simple...you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine."

When I Am Among The Trees

Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out "Stay awhile."

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,

"and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine."

for more poems to ease your weary soul, look here