When it’s over,
I want to say:
All my life I was a bride
Married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom,
Taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over,
I don’t want to wonder
If I have made my life
Something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself
Sighing and frightened,
Or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply
Having visited this world.
~ Mary Oliver
I love, love, love Mary Oliver, and this poem – well, it is just perfect for right now. I don’t want to live my life wondering if I lived as a visitor in the world; I want to live a life of presence, of joy, of amazement.
Jennifer Wolfe
Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.
Follow Me:
Yes. Me too. Oh, yes. That picture is glorious. And that is one of my favorite poems. ox
I never get tired of reading Mary Oliver. Such wisdom, such beauty. Lake Tahoe is glorious- have you ever been there?
What a gorgeous piece Jennifer!
Kathy Radigan recently posted…Time to Take Care of Mom
Kathy, thank you! Isn’t her poetry wonderful?
love
love
love
Mary O.x
My Inner Chick recently posted…11 Things I’ve Learned Since Your Murder
Me too! Such an amazing poet.
[…] gentle words so often reflect exactly what I cannot express myself. This month, I was dazzled by “Live A Life of Amazement” – if you haven’t read it before, it will dazzle you, […]
[…] shared Mary Oliver poetry before…I love, love, love her poetry, and this one seemed such a simple […]
[…] love Mary Oliver and her tremendous ability to weave language and nature and wisdom into a braid of enlightenment. The ‘patience of vegetables and saints’ – yes, yes, yes. The perfect […]
[…] Oh, how I love Mary Oliver and her tremendous ability to weave language and nature and wisdom into a braid of enlightenment. […]