northern cardinal photo by Nathaniel Rodgers
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
~ Mary Oliver
(Red Bird: Poems)
living a life
northern cardinal photo by Nathaniel Rodgers
northern cardinal photo by Nathaniel Rodgers
Funny you should quote Mary Oliver. My employer for 33 years was Houghton Mifflin of Boston. We published her poetry. I have a first edition of “Red Bird” on my shelves. Keep posting the beautiful photos and poems. It helps to brighten up my day even when I don’t reply.
That’s interesting, Ron, your Mary Oliver connection. I’ve only discovered her poetry recently, which is surprising, since she is also known as the Bard of Provincetown, the place I’ve spent so many summer vacations and long weekend getaways. I’m so glad to know you’re enjoying my word/picture combos.
I want to be astonished daily. To not take anything or anyone for granted. (Yet often find myself taking things for granted…) Barbara, another book suggestion for you. Not as scholarly as the Chinese translator. 🙂 This one is called Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and it is fantastic! Try reading a sample and see if you like. I am slowly digesting each chapter. It’s not really “spiritual” like Adyashanti or Joan Tollifson. This is an earthy Native American sharing. Am loving it.
I’m with you, Kathy, wanting to remain astonished and grateful even while grumbling about this-or-that. 🙂 I just added “Braiding Sweetgrass” to my Kindle and am looking forward to starting it soon. Thank you for recommending it! My favorite books are the ones written by people who weave (or braid) spirit, science and nature together from their own experiences and perspectives. I noticed Robin Wall Kimmerer has another book called “Gathering Moss” – my sister is fond of mosses and cultivates them in her rock garden – maybe I will get it for her.
Oh, what a pretty cardinal! We don’t have them here in Australia (that I know of) but I am learning to recognise them from my friends photos. As I watched some Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos soaring through the air this morning, I felt astonished, yet again, at how sublime it must be for these birds, any birds, to glide through the air in this way. I wonder if they feel the same joy in the action, as I do in watching them. 🙂
If I ever go to Australia I’d be feeling extra delighted so much of the time – all your wildlife seems very exotic to me. 🙂 I met a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo once – a few people keep them as pets here – I don’t think they would survive our climate outside. I don’t think it’s fair to the birds, though, being kept in cages where they cannot fly. But to see one soar like you did, at home in the wild, that would be an astonishing experience indeed!
Barbara — One of my all-time favorites, Mary Oliver. It doesn’t get much better than that 🙂
I’ve added Mary Oliver to my list of all-time favorites, too, Laurie! 🙂
I don’t know Mary Oliver, but love that quote.
I hope you get a chance to read more of Mary Oliver’s poetry, Sybil. I have a feeling you would like her musings on living in the natural world…
Yes. 🙂
It’s what you do so well with your blog, Robin, noticing things around you and sharing the wonders found with us. 🙂