Tuesday, March 25, 2008

For You My Friend

The sunshine is out there my friend, waiting to warm you.




SUCH SINGING IN THE WILD BRANCHES

It was spring
and finally I heard him
among the first leaves -
then I saw him clutching the limb
in an island of shade
with his red-brown feathers
all trim and neat for the new year.
First, I stood still
and thought of nothing.
Then I began to listen.
Then I was filled with gladness -
and that’s when it happened,
when I seemed to float,
to be, myself, a wing or a tree -
and I began to understand
what the bird was saying,
and the sands in the glass
stopped
for a pure white moment
while gravity sprinkled upward
like rain, rising,
and in fact
it became difficult to tell just what it was that was singing -
it was the thrush for sure, but it seemed
not a single thrush, but himself, and all his brothers,
and also the trees around them,
as well as the gliding, long-tailed clouds
in the perfectly blue sky - all, all of them
were singing.
And, of course, yes, so it seemed,
so was I.
Such soft and solemn and perfect music doesn’t last
for more than a few moments.
It’s one of those magical places wise people
like to talk about.
One of the things they say about it, that is true,
is that, once you’ve been there,
you’re there forever.
Listen, everyone has a chance.
Is it spring, is it morning?
Are there trees near you,
and does your own soul need comforting?
Quick, then - open the door and fly on your heavy feet; the song
may already be drifting away.



~Mary Oliver~

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Time to catch the song of spring before it flies into summer...

I have been watching the geese making their way back north for the past month. Hearing their honking and seeing their V formation has always made me feel grounded to the natural rhythm of the earth.

And I am looking forward to the return of the hummingbirds - not long now!

Anonymous said...

Are there trees near you,
and does your own soul need comforting?

Yes and Yes. Thank you Sunny.

Sunny Delight said...

sixdegrees,
I love listening to the geese as they fly over...I have not yet found the word that describes their sound...it is not quite a honking...when they are high in the sky, and just beyond the tree tops out of my sight, I watch for the sky for them, their calls send little thrills through me when I hear them, and bring a smile to my face. I have a heard a few all winter as they come to eat in the fields near me.

I am looking forward to the hummingbirds as well, I buy hanging baskets of flowers to hang along the deck just so I can sit quietly and watch them.

deb,
I am glad it comforted you, I hope spring is beginning to sing her song for you.