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 –

I have read this poem many times over the last few months. It resonated so much each time I read it. I want to be a person that “never hurries through the world and bows often.” There is an implied presence with that statement, Non-tasking comes to mind. I always find myself slaying over things that need to get done.

I love to hike as much as I can. The trees do seem to whisper as the wind weaves through their leaves. When I am out hiking through these trees I can hear “Stay Awhile” and sometimes I actually listen. “It’s simple” right? To be filled with the light and shine!

I think that is the tension I feel when I come back into the city and the ordinary life that continually tugs on me to “Do” rather than to “Be”.

I felt like I really wanted to hear this poem. Once I heard me reciting the poem, pictures that I took, started dancing through my head. The video is what started in my head as I heard the words that Mary sowed together