Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Listening to the Trees



"When I Am Among the Trees"

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
   but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."


~Mary Oliver, from Thirst





The photograph is mine.

18 comments:

  1. Ah yes if I can only remember to go slowly, what a lovely poem which truly speaks to me like the trees often do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is as you, and Mary Oliver, knew exactly what I needed to hear today. I'm just about to go out and do my garden rounds, where I will endeavor to be saved.

    When I am among the trees,
    especially the willows and the honey locust,
    equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
    they give off such hints of gladness.
    I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

    ReplyDelete
  3. As I read this I can almost feel the touch of the bark, hear the soft rustling dance of the leaves, and see the blinding glints through the fingertips of the trees.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a good poem. It evokes the feeling of being among trees, which really do seem to have a special presence of their own, if we only stop to look and listen.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a perfect poem! When I first moved to the Cities, I lived in a highrise apartment building along I-94 surrounded by parking lots and businesses. I came to the realization that trees were vital to my sense of well-being. I now live in an area where I am literally surrounded by trees on all sides. Never again will I be away from their "hints of gladness"!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shhhhhhhhhhh.
    Listening is the greatest form of speaking.
    It becomes a language of its own.

    Hearing the silence, brings air into a gasping life.

    Trees are our ever playing symphony.
    Even in the fall and winter when they have no leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was listening to the trees last night, and my own post is a reflection of that. I was so happy that to find others were listening too. They had so much to say last night.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Teresa, that poem by Mary Oliver left me breathless, awed by what it said and how the poet said that. What book of hers is that from?
    Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you So much for forcing me to double-check. It is Thirst, not Touch. I made the correction. :)

      Delete
    2. Dear Teresa, I really didn't look at the title you gave! But I am glad to learn the title so I can check her book out of the library. Thank you again for sharing this evocative poem with us. Peace.

      Delete
  9. "to be filled with light." Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A nice felling to be part of.I have a copy of this floating around, not real sure who has it, but it shall return.I enjoy listening to all around me when out alone.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think to walk beneath the tree's canopy does provide one with gladness. But, that person needs to be aware and an observer to really "see" and feel the gladness. -- good Oliver poem -- barbara

    ReplyDelete
  12. Teresa, that is a very nice poem. It so fits you. Beautiful as you are. Thanks for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Perfect perfect poem Teresa, I love trees and listen ALL the time!

    (This one's going in my journal)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have always had a fondness for trees. I remember thinking about them at a very early age. And they continue to amaze me at this later stage of my life. Mary Oliver!!! How can you go wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bow With The Wind As A Tree Might Do.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm so glad this spoke to many others as it did to me. I love how poetry can unite people with a few well-chosen words.

    ReplyDelete