The Journey
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.
-Mary Oliver
I’m guessing she is your favourite poet?! You have loads of poems by her… I did link to this one.
What I love about this and all poems is that you can’t hurry through them.
You’re right. She is my favourite poet. And yes, poems help slow me down and focus in such a different way. I need to explore what else is out there and expand my repertoire a little…I know there are tons of other poets that I have yet to read…so many books…so little time.
What a poet. So glad you posted this one.
I think this might be my favourite poem of hers…she’s beyond amazing.