Moisture falls from the sky, cleansing the world and sustaining precious life. But it’s the gloom—the cold, dark air—that receives notice. We fail to see the miracle of raindrops through our own tears. ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, June 23,… Continue reading Richelle E. Goodrich
A Settlement Look, it’s spring. And last year’s loose dust has turnedinto this soft willingness. The wind-flowers have comeup trembling, slowly the brackens are up-lifting theircurvaceous and pale bodies. The thrushes have comehome, none less than filled with mystery, sorrow,happiness, music, ambition. And I am walking out into all of this with nowhere togo and… Continue reading Mary Oliver
Go To the Limits of Your Longing God speaks to each of us as he makes us,then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: You, sent out beyond your recall,go to the limits of your longing.Embody me. Flare up like a flameand make big shadows I can… Continue reading Rania Maria Rilke
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? […] And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. — Kahlil Gibran, “On Death,” The Prophet (Knopf, 1923)
who took your handwhen you offered it to me. I am the pledge of emptinessthat turned around.Even the trees smiled. Always I was the birdthat flew off through the branches.Now I am the catwith feathersunder its tongue. —Mary Oliver, “I am the one,” Red Bird (Beacon Press, 2008)
When it’s over, I want to say: all my lifeI was a bride married to amazement. —Mary Oliver, from “When Death Comes” The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry (Vintage, 2003)
I am alone but not alone enough to make every moment holy. — Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God (Riverhead Hardcover; 2nd prt. Edition, March 19, 1996) Originally published April 1, 1905.
Sunrise You candie for it–an idea,or the world. People have done so,brilliantly,lettingtheir small bodies be bound to the stake,creatingan unforgettablefury of light. But this morning,climbing the familiar hillsin the familiarfabric of dawn, I thought of China,and Indiaand Europe, and I thoughthow the sun blazesfor everyone justso joyfullyas it rises under the lashesof my own eyes,… Continue reading Mary Oliver
And the loneliest people above all contribute most to commonality. I have said before that in this vast melody of life, some learn more, some less; therefore, in this big orchestra, everyone has his own role. The one who can perceive the entire melody is at the same time the loneliest and the closest to… Continue reading Rainer Maria Rilke
I would like to sing someone to sleep,to sit beside someone and be there.I would like to rock you and sing softlyand go with you to and from sleep.I would like to be the one in the housewho knew: The night was cold.And I would like to listen in and listen outinto you, into the… Continue reading Rainer Maria Rilke
The Vale of Soul-Making 