April
I wanted to speak at length about
the happiness of my body and the
delight of my mind for it was
April, night, a
full moon and –
but something in myself or maybe
from somewhere other said: not too
many words, please, in the
muddy shallows the
frogs are singing.
Mary Oliver
Swan
Poems and Prose Poems
2010
I wanted to speak at length about
the happiness of my body and the
delight of my mind for it was
April, night, a
full moon and –
but something in myself or maybe
from somewhere other said: not too
many words, please, in the
muddy shallows the
frogs are singing.
Mary Oliver
Swan
Poems and Prose Poems
2010
Poet Mary Oliver, near her home on Cape Cod, in Provincetown, Mass. (Josh Reynolds / For The Los Angeles Times)
Oh, I do like this - I don't really know her work, but I look forward to discovering more.
ReplyDeleteThere are some more here. You may click the poems tab under blog header picture, and scroll down to her name. Then just click on title to read it. She is oh, so wonderful.
DeleteI see the Easter bunny and buddy is on your step. :) This poem of Mary's is perfect for today. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking of you this morning!
DeleteLovely poem and perfect for the full moon last night. If you get the chance, look at Richard's photos of the moon on my last post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter.
I saw those great pictures!
DeleteHi Nan:
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this little poem. I do not know the poet, but I will certainly look up some of her other offerings. I wanted to wish you and your family and very happy Easter Nan. I hope the bunny leaves you lots and lots of MILK chocolate eggs.
You are amazing to remember our chocolate 'disagreement.' There are more Mary Oliver poems under the poems tab above.
DeleteAm new to your blog and must say I am enjoying it thoroughly. Love this poem. I live in Tasmania and although we are not overrun with frogs in the mud the full moon is with us.. Happy Easter. Pam
ReplyDeletetravellin' penguin
I saw your name in my stats the other day, and I visited for just a minute. I'll be back!
DeleteThere's a woman from there named Patricia who used to leave me notes on the blog, but I haven't heard from her in a long while.
Lovely poem, dear Mary O. Do you know how she is after being taken ill? Any more news?
ReplyDeleteCarole
Just your mention that she was better, and one other place online said she was recovering. Funny that there isn't more information.
DeleteWonderful poem, Nan. I too hope Ms Oliver is healing well.
ReplyDeleteAlso - didn't want to let the day go by without wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.
Wow, is time moving quickly these days. :)
Thanks to you and everyone for your Easter wishes. As Ellen D. says, 'same back atcha!'
DeleteWe aren't doing anything special this year.
Happy Easter, Nan. Swan is on my shelf - a favorite poetry collection!
ReplyDeleteI've just bought it, and have loved everything I've read so far. And the same to you!
DeleteI love her poetry. I love the simplicity and down-to-earth sentiments she writes about. I can understand her! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you and your family. We're having lunch with friends. Other than that, it maybe be a putter in the garden kind of afternoon. Or a bit of blog-hopping with my favorite pals.
I think that is why she is the best selling poet. She writes beautifully with sentiments we can all understand. I do love her work.
DeleteThank you. We aren't doing anything special this year. We've had cold and windy days for ages. I am not inspired to be outdoors in the garden. :<)
Nan, I have most of her books on the table by my old chair. Many paper markers sticking out of the books pointing to some of my favorite poems
ReplyDeleteWhy is it
when I read her poems
it is like she is speaking to my heart.
The words - if I could write - would be similar.
She is so special to me....
I was just thinking about you this morning! I feel exactly the same way about Mary Oliver.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I have visited three blogs this morning in order and each one has a Mary Oliver poem, I love her poems so, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have just very reluctantly returned 'Swan' to the library.
I've read that she is the best-selling poet, at least over here. I just bought Swan. So wonderful, as always.
DeleteShe does write beautifully about real life. Do you know if her health has improved -- I had heard she was very ill lately.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere she was better, and it wasn't as bad as they thought, but honestly there isn't much information that I could find.
DeleteLoved this. It's also one of those poems that show you how they were written. Meaning I can see her sitting there, reaching for words, and then saying, why? Why are they all necessary? Let's listen to those frogs.
ReplyDeleteIsn't she just amazing that way. So real. Like the reader is sitting right beside her and she is talking. But oh, how she puts those words together.
DeleteI was looking for news of her last week. I am happy to read here that she might be recovering, I hope so. I just discovered an article by Maria Shriver over at Oprah! magazine online, where she interviewed Mary Oliver last year. It's a splendid interview. It was quite interesting to see Mary talk a little about why she writes poetry, and I also bought Why I Wake Early (the book) for my birthday next month. I love her poetry, and it's been a revelation for me. Thank you for posting this one, I hadn't read it before.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that interview!
DeleteI so hope she is better.
Wonderful one to post, Nan. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI so love her work.
Delete