The Summer Day, by Mary Oliver
The Summer Day
Who made the world?Who made the swan, and the black bear?Who made the grasshopper?This grasshopper, I mean -the one who has flung herself out of the grass,the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down -who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.I don't know exactly what a prayer is.I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,which is what I have been doing all day.Tell me, what else should I have done?Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
- Mary Oliver
Who made the world?Who made the swan, and the black bear?Who made the grasshopper?This grasshopper, I mean -the one who has flung herself out of the grass,the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down -who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.I don't know exactly what a prayer is.I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,which is what I have been doing all day.Tell me, what else should I have done?Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
- Mary Oliver
Replies
Beautiful.. thank you for sharing
MaryLou
I love it:) Thank you. Danette
What A Really Cute Peom!! It was different, I liked that anology... Love & Hugs, Kelly
wow, I am speechless (this is good).I am adding this to my Mary Oliver prayer/poems/affirmations
thank you so much
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Linda
I know the answer.......tell Mary to get in touch with me (smiling).....I have a book by her from when I was in my poetry phase. It has been a long time. Thank you for sharing.....love, dale...brandon\'s mom
A glorious poem ~ thank you for sharing.
Love and hugs ~ Debbie
So beautiful. Thanks. Love Robin
A wonderful poem! I will copy it and look for her books. I often think the same things! Our world, before us, was so perfectly ordered. And, I feel a sense of humor in some of God\'s designs. Look at clown fish, silly bugs with bulging eyes, all of it! You cannot help but wonder at them.
And we must live our precious lives. Always living in the present, each day.
She is one of my favorite poets and I adore this poem. Thank you for sharing it with us as I had not read it in awhile. Such beautiful reminders of what we are called to do. Live this one wild and Very precious life! Love, Joanie
I don\'t have much interest in poetry, or maybe I just haven\'t given it a chance, but this is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. Hugs, Barbara
So neat...thank you for sharing this..Karen
I know that Jay spent his life a kind, gentle, caring and courageous man.
Pam
Very lovely! Hugs, Belinda