“Those days I was willing, but frightened.
What I mean is, I wanted to live my life but I didn't want to do what I had to do to go on, which was: to go back.
All winter the fires kept burning.”

if i had the means to tattoo every mary oliver poem into my skin, i would.

anyways, here are the bits i loved:

“the seeds of restlessness
    that made you, finally,
         swim toward the world,
             kicking and shouting
but trailing a mossy darkness —
    a dream that would never breathe air
         and was hinged to your wildest joy
             like a shadow.”

“each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.”

“You do not have to be good…You only have to let the soft animal of your body
    love what it loves.”

Love, love, loved this collection. It made a home in my heart.

Have never much considered myself a poetry guy, but what are your 30s for if not trying new things? Got this book as a Christmas present from my girlfriend’s twin sister and absolutely ate it up. The elemental wisdom and authorial presence of these poems reminded me of Ursula Le Guin, who is of course my favorite author. Here’s to more poetry in 2024!

Truly one of the best things I have ever read. I love Mary Oliver’s work so much.