I am not really a poetry person, or at least I say that to myself, but if a Mary Oliver book of poems shows up in my life, I devour them.  That is what happened this last weekend when I went on Silent Retreat.  I am not really a silent retreat person either, but I go every year because “they” say it is good for me.

On Silent Retreat we are silent for about 36 hours. During that time you can walk the beautiful land where the retreat center is located, sit on the porch of the Lodge where we gather for meals and reflections, or sleep. This time, although the sun was shining the wind was cold and bitter, so I did a lot of sleeping or sitting in the main room of the Lodge wishing we could have a fire in the fireplace. Tending the fire is a good way to spend your time when you are on silent retreat. There in that room a Mary Oliver book of poems appeared on the table next to where I was sitting. It was her collection called A Thousand Mornings and soon I was entranced by her writing and her deep insights.

Here is one called, I Go Down to the Shore.

I go down to the shore in the morning

and depending on the hour the waves

are rolling or moving out,

and I say, Oh I am miserable,

What shall __

What should I do? And the seas says

in its lovely voice:

Excuse me, I have work to do.

Just the word I need to hear when I am taking myself too seriously! I love the idea of having conversations with the natural world; the sea is never angsty or filled with indecision, it just does what it needs to do.

Then I read this one a few pages further entitled The Gardener.

Have I lived enough?

Have I loved enough?

 Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion?

Have I considered happiness with sufficient gratitude?

Have I endured loneliness with grace?

I say this or perhaps I’m just thinking it.

Actually I probably think too much.

Then I step out into the garden,

where the gardener, who is said to be a simple man,

is tending his children, the roses.

Here it is; all our angst and uncertainty about the existential questions of life, and it ends with a simple re-framing metaphor of a gardener in the garden tending his beloved roses.

Maybe I am a poetry person after all, at least if the poet is Mary Oliver! And with these two poems to gnaw on, ruminate over let sink deep into my psyche, Silent Retreat wan’t so bad either!

Brenda’s Rating: ***** ( 5 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Lauren and Keith

Book Study Worthy? No, but should be read and savored.

Read in book format.