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From In Blackwater Woods
by Mary Oliver
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it
go,
to let it go.
We have had to let go of two more luminaries of poetry this week. I imagine the Poetry Friday roundup will be a somber place as we remember Toni Morrison and Lee Bennett Hopkins. Molly Hogan has the roundup this week at Nix the Comfort Zone. Ironically perfect.
Mary Oliver always has the words, doesn't she? Thanks, MaryLee.
ReplyDeleteSuch perfect wise words from Mary Oliver. Thank you, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteMary Oliver's words are just the right ones to mourn some giants in the writing field. For years, I have noted and followed these literary luminaries. Thanks for the poem, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the needed words, Mary Lee. Such a terrible week!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Mary's work. Always poignant.
ReplyDeleteNot having an easy time letting it go. Thank you for this, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Mary Lee, and it makes me miss Mary Oliver as well. Sending extra hugs this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing words from another poet whose loss is dearly felt.
ReplyDeleteHug...
ReplyDeleteSigh...loving and holding close are the easy parts, letting go in times like these seems especially hard, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing Oliver's perfect words.
ReplyDeleteOuch, what a week… That "let it go" part is hard–for me carrying a bit of them in my reflections helps. Thanks for Mary Oliver's poem and the melancholic rose.
ReplyDeleteOh this is the perfect poem for this week...I turn to poetry in weeks such as this. Jone
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about Mary Oliver that we always turn to her in these somber moments? A salve for heavy hearts. Thanks for the poetry aloe, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteAs I work to remember to turn out ALL the lights and flick off power strips, I've been noticing how far a single beam of light can travel in my darkening house. Our luminaries shine on; we'll just have to keep a more watchful eye open for their beams now. What a(nother)year.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a week of loss, but I am grateful that their words and ideas live on to nourish us. These from Mary Oliver offer balm.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this perfect poem at the end of a most imperfect week.
ReplyDeleteLetting go is hard.
ReplyDelete