Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Not a Resolution but a Question ...



That question has been echoing in my mind for some time.  It comes from Mary Oliver's beautiful poem "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?

 
Posted by Picasa

15 comments:

Suz said...

happy happy New Year

Ms. A said...

I don't have a clue what my plan will be for the New Year, but I sure hope it's a better year than the last one!

Happy New Year, Vicki!

katy gilmore said...

That is a great question Vicki! And a happy, happy new year to you! xo

Martin said...

One of my favourites, Vicki. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Brian Miller said...

oh i will wear it out....smiles....ok, so in reality i will give it away bit by bit...smiles...

happy new year....

Diotima said...

I love that poem. Happy New Year to you, too, Vicki!

Barbara Rogers said...

Thank you for reminding me. Very poignant for today, since a dear friend went into a coma and isn't expected to survive. I am so aware of our precious short existence today.

Vicki Lane said...

Dear Ms. A -- I am hoping it will be a bright new beginning for you and for Michael!

And , yes, Barb -- life is so fragile -- all best hopes for your friend...

We have house guests and I won't be able to come blog visiting till tomorrow -- in the meantime -- a Happy New Year to all of you!

NCmountainwoman said...

Excellent thoughts. Happy New Year!

Lise said...

What a powerful poem...gives me much to ponder. I know one thing I want to do, and that is to be sure that my daughters and grandson know that I loved them with all my heart and soul and left them with something they will carry with them after I pass on...perhaps I shall ask them what some of those memories might be:) Thanks for the food for thought and Happy New Year to you!

Jime said...

I plan to see more of this earth and all its beauty. This orb is all we got and the mother of us all.

Brenda said...

That is a beautiful poem that created a moment of summer so vividly as I read it! Happy New Year.

Victoria said...

Happy New Year!

Thérèse said...

Such a good introduction to 2014.
I wish you all the little joys possible to fill up your days, weeks and months to end up with a wonderful year 2014!

Vicki Lane said...

So many great answers... I especially like Brian's...