I am Nobody's Poet

This photo was taken by Kristiana on a visit to some fellow Williams grads who live 90 minutes away from us in South Carolina. The sound of water cascading over rocks mixed with the sound of children laughing - a glorious symphony. A glorious day.
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But Mary Oliver is.
An awesome poet, in fact.
Here are two of my favorite Oliver poems.



Thirst

Another morning and I wake with thirst
for the goodness I do not have. I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over my books past the
hour and the bell; grant me, in your
mercy, a little more time. Love for the
earth and love for you are having such a
long conversation in my heart. Who
knows what will finally happen or
where I will be sent, yet already I have
given a great many things away, expect-
ing to be told to pack nothing, except the
prayers which, with this thirst, I am
slowly learning.



Praying


It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

Both poems are taken from Mary Oliver's book entitled Thirst.



I couldn't have said it better myself.
I'm oh so glad she said it oh so well.