I thank Annie for sharing this lovely poem with me.
Mysteries, YesTruly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.~ Mary Oliver
The nice thing about such a poem is that I imagine it says many different things to different people. For me, it speaks of shared wonder at the power and presence of the Spirit among and around us.
The poem calls to my mind that section of the Sistine Chapel where God outstretches his finger to Adam. When two hands touch, the bond will never be broken...what great imagery to describe our relationship with the Divine, a mystery too marvellous to be understood.
The language also evokes the hand of a friend extended in love and caring, the bond of kindred spirits...friendship is itself a marvellous mystery! Let me keep company always with the friend who laughs with me in astonishment, who dreams of rising as I do, who shares my sense of wonder at the mysteries of creation. ♥
The wonders of creation too come to mind...explained by science, for sure, but nonetheless containing an underlying mystery. Science explains how, but does it adequately explain the why? The force that through the green fuse drives the flower (Dylan Thomas' words, of course, not mine.)
Comments (20)
Nice post, Anne. And I love the poem.
Posted by candi | April 9, 2009 5:30 AM
Posted on April 9, 2009 05:30
I like your take on the poem. The part that jumped out at me was the "avoid certainty, embrace mystery" part. Love your purple iris too!
Posted by Annie | April 9, 2009 10:32 AM
Posted on April 9, 2009 10:32
A beautiful poem and a gorgeous photo, Anne.
I hope that all is well with you, have a wonderful Easter!
Posted by sandrac | April 9, 2009 12:48 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 12:48
What a beautiful poem with a message so appropriate as we are entering the Easter Triduum, the holiest of the seasons in the Christian world. Thanks to Annie for sending it to you and to you dear friend for sharing. Peace and love to you and your loved ones.
Posted by María I. | April 9, 2009 12:55 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 12:55
Thanks Candi, it is a beautiful poem, isn't it?
Annie, I like that part too. It is often through embracing mystery and chancing the unknown that we grow the most! (Have to give the iris photo credit to Valerie, though. She gave me copies of her photos from when M went to Nfld with them last summer, and that was among them. Her husband painted a wonderful painting of that very iris for M.)
Thank you Sandra, I am so looking forward to this lovely long weekend, and the chance to recharge physically and spiritually :)
Maria, how kind, I am sending prayers of peace and hugs of love right back to you. (Right after I google "Triduum" - I am not familiar with that term!)
Posted by Anne | April 9, 2009 2:20 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 14:20
I loved both today's poem and yesterday's. Both are great for Spring but I really liked today's. It brought to mind the mystery of Spring's rebirth - everything fresh and new again in the circle of life.
Posted by marta | April 9, 2009 4:18 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 16:18
Marta, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this wonderful poem. I love how it contains so many different messages for each of us!
Posted by Anne | April 9, 2009 11:21 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 23:21
"Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood." Anne, yes!
Posted by Casey | April 10, 2009 2:41 AM
Posted on April 10, 2009 02:41
Amen Casey! Thanks for stopping by my blog :)
Posted by Anne | April 10, 2009 8:57 AM
Posted on April 10, 2009 08:57
Hi Anne, thank you for sharing this beautiful poem that Annie shared with you. I loved reading the things that came to your mind when reading this poem. I especially love the imagery of the section in the Sistine Chapel you spoke about and the part of the poem you quoted . . . "When two hands touch, the bond will never be broken"!
Thank you for writing this post and I love that beautiful photo too. Have a wonderful Easter weekend Anne! Hugs from me too!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 10, 2009 9:13 AM
Posted on April 10, 2009 09:13
Kathy, those really are powerful words, aren't they? Thanks for your (as always) thoughtful comment and the hugs! :) You have a wonderful weekend too!
Posted by Anne | April 10, 2009 12:56 PM
Posted on April 10, 2009 12:56
Lovely thoughts. thank you for sharing this.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 11, 2009 1:07 PM
Posted on April 11, 2009 13:07
My pleasure Barb, glad you enjoyed it :)
Posted by Anne | April 11, 2009 1:54 PM
Posted on April 11, 2009 13:54
As usual, behind and catching up... beautiful poem and flower. I also love how it can mean different things to different people. Happy Easter. Hope you are doing well.
Posted by girasoli | April 11, 2009 11:44 PM
Posted on April 11, 2009 23:44
thanks girasoli :) I hope you are enjoying your Easter weekend also!
Posted by Anne | April 12, 2009 6:28 AM
Posted on April 12, 2009 06:28
Happy Easter, Anne! Beautiful poem and beautiful post.
Posted by Chiocciola | April 12, 2009 12:14 PM
Posted on April 12, 2009 12:14
Hi Anne, I was thinking of you today and I wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Easter Sunday!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 12, 2009 12:23 PM
Posted on April 12, 2009 12:23
Thanks Chiocciola, I think it's a wonderful poem too :)
Kathy, how sweet of you to think of me, thanks!
Posted by Anne | April 12, 2009 9:08 PM
Posted on April 12, 2009 21:08
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
Posted by Annie | April 13, 2009 11:31 AM
Posted on April 13, 2009 11:31
Thanks Annie, I did! It was nice to have Sara home, the sound of the girls laughing together Saturday evening while playing the wii was music to my ears! :)
I hope you (and all our other blog friends) had a wonderful Easter weekend too ♥
Posted by Anne | April 13, 2009 12:10 PM
Posted on April 13, 2009 12:10