Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Peace Of Wild Things

 

 
The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.       


-Wendell Berry

43 comments:

  1. It has been a long time since I have heard the name of Wendell Berry- Thanks for the reminder-

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    1. At a Memorial service on Saturday, one of the speakers quoted one of his poems, not this one, but I remembered this one and since the woman who died loved spending time at the lake, I wanted to have this as a post.

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  2. I do so like herons! Thank you for another beautiful picture.

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    1. Thanks, Meike! And you know I love birds, all of them!

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  3. That is a beautiful poem and reminds me that even the sparrow is in God's care. Hope you have a restful and relaxing Sunday!

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    1. And of course, "he leadeth beside still waters" is a phrase from the 23rd Psalm that I hope this post will also bring to mind.
      Thanks so much for your comment. xx

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  4. "[W]ho do not tax their lives with forethought" -- how beautifully worded!

    Reminds me of Matthew 6:31-32, a caution to not tax life with worry.

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    1. When we were in England, that is what the sermon was about at the church we attended, All Souls Church in Eastbourne!
      So glad you liked the poem too, it doesn't mention God but since nature is made by God, I think it is implied! xx

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  5. Oh my, how beautiful! So glad to read this today, Kay. I have to recommend a book to you on this topic ~ "Active Hope" by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone. It did make me feel more hopeful and I'm planning on reading it again this year. I worry about the world so much....and for my children....and, as you know, nature is just about my only solace. I know you're the same! Hope you're well, Kay!

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    1. Dear Audrey,
      So glad you like this too. Thanks for telling me about the book. I need to be reminded to be more hopeful. Honestly, I am the biggest worrywart you will ever know!
      Take care, my friend, and don't worry! (Ha, easy to say, I know.)

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  6. Hi Kay! What a gorgeous poem! Poetry is not my long suit, so I love when you put incredible poems in your blog. Thank you for sharing this!

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    1. Glad you like it too. I have the soul of a poet and artist, but I can't write or paint! Ah, the cruel irony of life.

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    2. You are not giving yourself enough credit as a writer, Kay! I can't write poetry ever, so I try for a few poetic images in my prose now and again!

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  7. Such a beautiful picture accompanied by beautiful words...

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    1. Thank you.
      Peace of the still waters to you!

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  9. Beautiful. The poem and the bird in its world of still water.

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    1. I know how much you love being out in peace of nature!

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  11. "With forethought of grief". What an excellent way to put it. The next time I start to dwell on those later-life worries, I'm going to remember these words and live in the present.

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    1. We all need to remember this. Thanks for your comment!

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  12. Just reading this poem makes the heart beat slower and stress leave the body!

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    1. Stress to leave the body, yes, let's talk ourselves into just that!!

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  13. Just wonderful, Kay! I'm not familiar with this poem. Thank you for sharing it with us ~ Cheers, Loi

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    1. Oh, I am glad that you like it. Thank you for your comment.
      Cheers to you in D.C.!

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  14. we could all use some of this perspective in our lives!

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    1. I know that I need to remind myself of this.

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  15. I like the still water imagery! I need to find that more often myself!

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  16. The quietness and simplicity, Kay, of this post is absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much. I will take heed of the message.

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    1. Thank you, Jim. Your photographs are so beautiful, that means a lot coming from you! :-) Peace to you always!

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  17. I have always loved that poem, Kay. Thank you for reminding me of it. Nature has always been such a solace to me--amazing how sometimes how it can lift my spirits like nothing else. A lovely picture, too---I adore Great Blue Herons.

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    1. I heard a poem by the same poet at a memorial service on Saturday, but it reminded me of this poem which I wish I had memorized it and I could have shared it at the service.
      Oh well, I have shared it here.
      And I took the photo of the heron! xx

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  18. That is beautiful, Kay. Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. Thank you, dear Martha, peace to you always, my friend!

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  19. That is a truly beautiful and peaceful photo. Is it one that you took yourself, Kay? How delightful to be able to go out and spot something like that.

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    1. Dear Jenny,
      Oh, so nice to see your comment here! :-)
      Yes, believe it or not, that is a photo that I took myself, at a lake back in June of last year.

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  20. This is such a beautiful poem. That looks like a blue heron. I love to be out in the wild right now.

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    1. Thanks, Kay! You have such a beautiful spot in the world to enjoy the wild! :-)

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