Loving the World

Pasture, Conestoga, Ontario

Messenger    by Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.

4 thoughts on “Loving the World

  1. Fiona, thank you for these on-going posts, always thoughtful and always touching my heart in some way.
    I would like to quote your “empty chalice” words in a service coming up, with attribution. Ok with you?

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