Kidscorner

Thursday 27 January 2011

Wild Geese

Landscape seen from Pirongia Forest Park


Julie, a friend passed this poem on to me today. I think it is so beautiful it touches your soul.

Wild Geese
By Mary Oliver


You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Arohanui marja

9 comments:

  1. I know this poem well, Marja. It's stunning as is your photo. Thanks.

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  2. Marja, everyone of your photos are beautiful and make me hope I can visit New Zealand some day.

    This was the first time I have read "Wild Geese." I found the words very comforting, thank you.

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  3. Hi Marja, bedankt voor je comment. Jammer adat je de slides niet kunt zien. Ik maak er graag gebruik van omdat er anders veel te veel op mijn blog komt te staan, maar ik heb je de foto's opgestuurd. Zo kan je ze alsnog zien! Groetjes, Wil

    Mooie foto trouwens hier op je blog.

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  4. This poem gives hope and lightens burdens of many. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Lovely poem, Marja. And the photo is great, as always!

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  6. This is one of my all-time favourite poems. I even think it should be read out at my funeral. It is comforting and beautiful!

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  7. Very beautiful poem,Marja!
    It´s always great to see your fantastic colourful photos in your blog.You make my day better.January here in Germany isn´t definitive my month.It´s only grey sky and cold.It´s so nice to see your photos!
    Have a nice day.

    Groetjes,Steffi

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  8. Marja, you visited my blog, don't know how you got there, but such a sweet comment I would not have wanted to miss. I find you blog interesting, photos are true and real life as it is.

    AND...your English is exceptional!
    Thanks again for your kind words.
    PEACE!

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Thank you!!