Tuesday, December 15, 2009

White and Wild

In the Midst of Falling Snow......Image by Harpersbizarre via Flickr

I hope that you aren't tired of hearing about the weather in Alaska. Our clouds have lifted to a slightly higher elevation and have begun releasing gently falling snow flakes, not the great big furious ones, but small and slightly timid ones. It put me in mind of one of Mary Oliver's poems that is one of my favorite winter poems because she so accurately evokes the feelings that I experience here and also because the deep wisdom of this poem doesn't need to have anything at all to do with snow.

Walking Home from Oak-Head

There is something
about the snow-laden sky
in winter
in the late afternoon.

that brings to the heart elation
and the lovely meaninglessness
of time.
Whenever I get home--whenever--

somebody loves me there.
Meanwhile
I stand in the same dark peace
as any pine tree,

or wander on slowly
like the still unhurried wind,
waiting,
as for a gift,

for the snow to begin
which it does
at first casually,
then irrepressibly.

Wherever else I live--
in music, in words,
in the fires of the heart,
I abide just as deeply

in this nameless, indivisible place,
this world,
which is falling apart now,
which is white and wild,

which is faithful beyond all our expressions of faith,
our deepest prayers.
Don't worry, sooner or later I'll be home.
Red-cheeked from the roused wind,

I'll stand in the doorway
stamping my boots and slapping my hands,
my shoulders
covered with stars.

Mary Oliver

Winter blessings.....

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will never tire of hearing about Alaka winters. They are so much more perfectly perfect when you are 4000 miles away.
beautiful poem too...

Susan Carpenter Sims said...

I love how you post about weather, and can't imagine getting sick of it.

I had not read this poem - it's gorgeous.

Roy DeLeon said...

I can't wait to experience Alaska weather!

Cathy, apprentice alchemist said...

Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem. "the lovely meaninglessness
of time" is a phrase that resonates for me.

Macrina said...
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