Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Mary Oliver Poem

April is National Poetry Month, in addition to National Letter Writing Month.  Here's a poignant poem by Mary Oliver that integrates them both.

A Letter from Home
She sends me news of blue jays, frost,
Of stars and now the harvest moon
That rides above the stricken hills.
Lightly, she speaks of cold, of pain,
And lists what is already lost.
Here where my life seems hard and slow,
I read of glowing melons piled
Beside the door, and baskets filled
With fennel, rosemary and dill,
While all she could not gather in
Or hid in leaves, grow black and falls.
Here where my life seems hard and strange,
I read her wild excitement when
Stars climb, frost comes, and blue jays sing.
The broken year will make no change
Upon her wise and whirling heart;-
She knows how people always plan
To live their lives, and never do.
She will not tell me if she cries.

I touch the crosses by her name;
I fold the pages as I rise,
And tip the envelope, from which
Drift scraps of borage, woodbine, rue.

Mary Oliver

4 comments:

kimberly shaw said...

What a delightful poem, I LOVE it! Thanks for the reminder that this is National Poetry month.

Teresa's New Life said...

Lovely poem. Will have to come up with one myself to pay homage. Thanks Steph- hope all is well.

Marilyn Miller said...

Love Mary Oliver. Thanks also for the National Poetry month reminder.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Mary Oliver is my favorite. Thank you for sharing this poem.