Gratitude

“The Place I Want to Get Back To” by Mary Oliver

The place I want to get back to
is where
in the pinewoods
in the moments between
the darkness
and first light
two deer
came walking down the hill
and when they saw me
they said to each other, okay,
this one is okay,
let’s see who she is
and why she is sitting
on the ground like that,
so quiet, as if
asleep, or in a dream,
but, anyway, harmless;
and so they came
on their slender legs
and gazed upon me
not unlike the way
I go out to the dunes and look
and look and look
into the faces of the flowers;
and then one of them leaned forward
and nuzzled my hand, and what can my life
bring to me that could exceed
that brief moment?
For twenty years
I have gone every day to the same woods,
not waiting, exactly, just lingering.
Such gifts, bestowed,
can’t be repeated.
If you want to talk about this
come to visit. I live in the house
near the corner, which I have named
Gratitude.

Mary Oliver Thirst (Beacon Press, 2006)

Comments

Unknown said…
Wow Kelly - thanks for sharing - this is such a moving poem. I would like to copy it and keep it if I am allowed.

I managed to track down the Coccoina glue sticks in the UK - gosh they cost a lot of pennies - but boy do they smell good, and they are so creamy and sticky and worth every penny - thanks for the tip. Still at the scrounging magazine stage of my journal but hope to get going proper before Christmas have had such very busy manic weeks. Please do not feel the need to reply to all my comments - it is very sweet of you - but you are a very busy lady and I am just so happy to pop on here and see what you are up to and get inspiration from your work.
xxxxx
Luvcreatincards said…
Bonjour Kelly,
Thanks to my dear friend Lottie I have just found your lovely blog, and how lovely to see that she has just left you a comment too.
This poem is beautiful, I have not seen it before,so THANK YOU for the introduction, and would also like to copy it is that's OK with you?
I have just made a coffee so am going to take some 'me' time to sit and enjoy reading more about you, what you do and some more of your posts.
I can see that this will become a regular place for me to visit for inspiration and eye candy.
Warmest best wishes from across the miles in France,
Susanne
Kelly Kilmer said…
Hi Lottie and Susanne,

Thank you both for finding your way here! :)

It isn't my poem but Mary Oliver's and since it is going around already maybe it will lead you down the rabbit hole into the world of her many, many fabulous poetry books. I adore her work.

Lottie, I have found a source here in the US where the large 40 gram glue sticks are about US $3.50. Other stores are double that. IF you keep looking, maybe?

Thank you both for stopping by! :)
Carin Winkelman said…
This poem just made me sigh, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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