Poetry Day 2009
Some Questions You Might Ask
by Mary Oliver
Is the soul solid, like iron?
Or is it tender and breakable, like
the wings of a moth in the beak of the owl?
Who has it, and who doesn’t?
I keep looking around me.
The face of the moose is as sad
as the face of Jesus.
The swan opens her white wings slowly.
In the fall, the black bear carries leaves into the darkness.
One question leads to another.
Does it have a shape? Like an iceberg?
Like the eye of a hummingbird?
Does it have one lung, like the snake and the scallop?
Why should I have it, and not the anteater
who loves her children?
Why should I have it, and not the camel?
Come to think about it, what about the maple trees?
What about the blue iris?
What about all the little stones, sitting alone in the moonlight?
What about roses, and lemons, and their shiny leaves?
What about the grass?
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I love the unanswered questions posed by soul-searching!
posted by Barbara at 12:01 AM
10 Comments:
What an interesting poem, really makes you think.
And your orchid is looking specatular.
What about the little stones, sitting alone in the moonlight?
The soul... a million questions.
beautiful orchid & intriguing poem
Blue Iris looks like an interesting book--what are her essays like?
Glad you participated! I saw this very same poem on a couple of other blogs. Obviously everyone has questions this year, lots of questions.
Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, and this was an excellent choice. The orchid is stunning.
Squirrel--Her essays are every bit as riveting or intriguing as her poetry. Her book, "Long Life," is quite good.
Great post. I've never seen t his poem before, or heard of the author. Thanks!
Why, that is the very poem I chose! I love Mary Oliver.
Squirrel -- A friend just loaned me the Mary Oliver book, and so far I have read only the poetry, all of which is equally great. E is encouraging me to go back and read the essays now.
Avid Reader -- Too many poets, too little time.
Tut-tut -- Great minds, or maybe just great poem.
Our understanding is too shallow to understand.
One question leads to another, one poem leads to another, one blog leads to another, one friend leads to another, one chapter leads to another... Here's to questions, and to things beginning and ending in their rightful time!
P.S. I loved our talk (and virtual tea), too!
XO,
F.
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