Mary Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)🌹
One day you finally knew Â
what you had to do, and began,Â
though the voices around youÂ
kept shouting Â
their bad advice—Â
though the whole houseÂ
began to tremble Â
and you felt the old tug Â
at your ankles. Â
“Mend my life!”each voice cried. Â
But you didn’t stop. Â
You knew what you had to do, Â
though the wind pried Â
with its stiff fingers Â
at the very foundations, Â
though their melancholy Â
was terrible. Â
It was already lateÂ
enough, and a wild night, Â
and the road full of fallen Â
branches and stones. Â
But little by little, Â
as you left their voices behind, Â
the stars began to burn Â
through the sheets of clouds, Â
and there was a new voice Â
which you slowly Â
recognized as your own, Â
that kept you company Â
as you strode deeper and deeper Â
into the world, Â
determined to do Â
the only thing you could do— Â
determined to save Â
the only life you could save.
This was the first poem by Mary Oliver I read while working in the bookstore at Esalen. It inspired in me the courage to live my own life regardless of the voices around me. Thank you my poetess.
Mary Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)🌹
Listen to Mary Oliver read her poem “The Journey” here.