And when I find DOG SONGS by Mary Oliver at the library,
I think I have died and gone to heaven.
I've read the book at least three times in the last week. Such big truths in so few words.
Some lines have already written themselves on my heart.
LUKE
…she adored
every blossom,
not in the serious
careful way
that we choose
this blossom or that blossom.
the way we praise or don't praise
the way we love
or don't love---
but the way
we long to be---
that happy
in the heaven of earth--
that wild, that loving.
(C) Mary Oliver, DOG SONGS, 2013
BENJAMIN, WHO CAME FROM
WHO KNOWS WHERE
…Benny, I say,
don't worry. I also know the way
the old life haunts the new.
(C) Mary Oliver, DOG SONGS, 2013
Mary Oliver, DOG SONGS, 2013
"THE DOG HAS RUN OFF AGAIN (BENJAMIN)"
Who am I to summon his hard and happy body
his four white feet that love to wheel and pedal
through the dark leaves
to come back to walk by my side, obedient.
(C) Mary Oliver, DOG SONGS, 2013
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE
A CONVERSATION
IS GOING TO GO
…Well, see? Just keep on liking things.
And praying.
"I don't know anything about that."
Yes you do. Every time you wake up and
love your life and the world, you're
praying, my dear boy. I'm sure of it.
And there are some poems that I will need to reread and swish around a few (or maybe a hundred) more times before I understand…
"LUKE'S JUNKYARD SONG"Read more terrific lines people have pulled from Dog Songs here.
"Listen, a junkyard puppy
Learns quickly how to dream
Listen, whatever you see and love--
That's where you are.'
Read the NY TIMES book review here.
Visit the POETRY FRIDAY ROUNDUP at Anastasia's POET! POET!
You remind me how much I miss having a dog, Carol. They "are" many things to us humans. Thanks for the BIG shout out!
ReplyDeleteI love this book too! Thanks for sharing several of your favorite poems. I need to reread my copy now. :)
ReplyDeleteI also love books, poetry, dogs, and Mary Oliver's poetry. Thank you for sharing these precious bits of her book. The Benjamin ones especially spoke to me--I can so easily see those four white paws stirring up the leaves. I'm going to find a copy of that book!
ReplyDeleteHi there Carol. I know exactly the right person I shall give this book of poetry to. I don't have a dog (never had one even when I was young) but Mary Oliver makes me want to get a canine companion, stat!
ReplyDeleteThere is still a tiny part of my heart that believes there will be another dog in my life! But not right now.
ReplyDeleteLove this as a Big Truth: "Every time you wake up and
love your life and the world, you're
praying, my dear boy. I'm sure of it."
I wonder how much more enjoyable life could be if we could all take some lessons from dogs?
ReplyDeleteI must look for this book as well! I love the poem "THE DOG HAS RUN OFF AGAIN". It could have been written for my dog, Smidgey. Thanks for sharing. = )
ReplyDelete