Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees,the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.
A dear friend sent me this poem. It inspired my new year's resolution:
to be kind to me.
I have recently discovered how comfortable I am practing compassion towards others and yet, I am quite a novice with being kind to myself! I invite you to enjoy your year. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy holding yourself so softly in the palm in of your hand before you spread your wings and soar high, low and home. Happy New Year!
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.
A dear friend sent me this poem. It inspired my new year's resolution:
to be kind to me.
I have recently discovered how comfortable I am practing compassion towards others and yet, I am quite a novice with being kind to myself! I invite you to enjoy your year. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy holding yourself so softly in the palm in of your hand before you spread your wings and soar high, low and home. Happy New Year!