Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
~ Mary Oliver
(Mysteries, Yes)
“Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.”
so true and so beautiful, Barbara
Thank you, Leelah! It took me so long to learn this lesson…
Beautiful post Barbara.
Thank you, Peggy.
Beautiful thoughts to ponder. For me, there seems to be so much worth thinking about for those to take the time to look and wonder.
Yes, what a gift it is to look and wonder and without having to latch on to a rigid answer or explanation…
As much as I like social media, the downside of it is “those who think they have the answers.” Am I being too snarky?
Nope, Ally, you are not being snarky at all. It’s one of my pet peeves, having to interact with a know-it-all.
I keep thinking of what Leelah just copied. That we might keep our distance from those who think they have the answers. What this makes me think of–is when I think I have the answers. And how to keep a bit of distance from that viewpoint, and maybe see it from a larger perspective.
It’s a humbling thing, to keep to that larger perspective, to realize it’s so easy to fall into the comfort of thinking we’ve found the answers and then to not do it. What I love about poetry and song lyrics, they can have so many varied meanings to us at different times in our lives.
This is a good one, both the photo and Mary Oliver’s poem. Yes, none of us has all the answers, and maintaining a sense of reverent wonder seems like an excellent way to approach life!
Thank you, Debbie! I couldn’t believe my luck in finding the portrait of the lamb with such a sweet expression on its face. Wish we could all frolic in fields of grassy wonder like little lambs. 🙂
Beautiful ❤️
Thank you, Donna! 💙
I enjoyed reading this post Barbara – it’s very beautiful.
Thank you, Linda! 💙