The words “death” and “when it’s over” shows up multiple times in this poem. But this is not a poem about death. It is a poem about life and living.
When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,
and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom; taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.
~Mary Oliver
Each time I read this poem, tears rise to my eyes as I deeply long to live this way. To see the world this way. To love this way.
What about you? What is the intention that you might set so that when this day is over you can say that you inhabited the time and space fully rather than having just visiting? What could “taking the world into my arms” look like in your life? Where have you been amazed?
I would love to hear your thoughts or responses. Comment below. And if you know anyone who would like the blog or might be interested in spiritual direction, please forward this email.
Blessings!
Rebecca
1 Comment
By Elizabeth
Yes, and I’m so aware of how I hurry through everything. I don’t like that awareness, but at least in awareness, I have a chance to do something about it.