Food for the Soul

Today, I join in the Silent Poetry Reading, honoring the Goddess Brigid, patron of poets and healers.

The Journey
by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations--
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice,
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life that you could save.

 

Included in She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems, selected by Caroline Kennedy

 

Comments

[margene]

A poem reveals more each time it's read and is such a lovely way of expression.
Through the years I have participated in the silent poetry reading, but it's been off my radar. Thanks for bringing it to my attention again.

[Mary]

lovely. thank you for sharing the beautiful words and the silent poetry reading!

[Rachel]

Beautifully said! Thank you for sharing.

[Carole]

That's beautiful. I read through it a couple of times and I really like it.

[Patty]

I like it! ;-)

[Cynthia]

Wow. An incredible poem. Thank you for sharing it.