Sunset and full moon over Lake Tahoe
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.
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Comments: 10
Lily, The Perfect Prayer of Patience Poetry by Mary Oliver
March 26, 2018[…] Oh, how I love Mary Oliver and her tremendous ability to weave language and nature and wisdom into a braid of enlightenment. […]
The Lily - mamawolfe
September 13, 2016[…] 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 […]
Pay Attention - mamawolfe
September 19, 2014[…] shared Mary Oliver poetry before…I love, love, love her poetry, and this one seemed such a simple […]
My Best Life, April 2014: Endings and Beginnings - mamawolfe
April 28, 2014[…] 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, […]
My Inner Chick
April 12, 2014love
love
love
Mary O.x
My Inner Chick recently posted…11 Things I’ve Learned Since Your Murder
Jennifer Wolfe
April 12, 2014Me too! Such an amazing poet.
Kathy Radigan
April 11, 2014What a gorgeous piece Jennifer!
Kathy Radigan recently posted…Time to Take Care of Mom
Jennifer Wolfe
April 12, 2014Kathy, thank you! Isn’t her poetry wonderful?
Lindsey
April 10, 2014Yes. Me too. Oh, yes. That picture is glorious. And that is one of my favorite poems. ox
Jennifer Wolfe
April 12, 2014I never get tired of reading Mary Oliver. Such wisdom, such beauty. Lake Tahoe is glorious- have you ever been there?