1908_11629 Among the Trees
WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
by Mary Oliver
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.”
I wasn't planning on coupling a photo with a poem this morning, but... here they are. I was among the trees, deep beneath the dark canopy. It had rained overnight, and the moisture-laden air kept fogging my lenses. I dutifully wiped them before each shot, but then it occurred to me to try some shots without wiping - and this was the result.
Photographed in Marble River Provincial Park, British Columbia (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2019 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
1908_11629 Among the Trees
WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
by Mary Oliver
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.”
I wasn't planning on coupling a photo with a poem this morning, but... here they are. I was among the trees, deep beneath the dark canopy. It had rained overnight, and the moisture-laden air kept fogging my lenses. I dutifully wiped them before each shot, but then it occurred to me to try some shots without wiping - and this was the result.
Photographed in Marble River Provincial Park, British Columbia (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2019 James R. Page - all rights reserved.