At noon this Sunday, August 2, Riverside Readers will discuss and critique “Morning Poem” by Mary Oliver after the 11:00 am prayer meeting. Please read it, and if you have time, join us at the discussion. Details on how to join the discussion are on the Online Community Services page.
Morning Poem
by Mary OliverEvery morning
the world
is created.
Under the orangesticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves againand fasten themselves to the high branches—
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islandsof summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trailsfor hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within itthe thorn
that is heavier than lead—
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging—there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted—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.