Why I Wake Early: New Poems | 
#NewYearNewBooks
Not a new book at all, but a book of poetry I love with #WhyInTitle (probably could have used it for tomorrow‘s #CloudCover prompt too!) 😉
“Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.” …beautiful 🌅
This week, I took a reflective writing class, entitled Autumn Harvest, where we looked the painting Autumn on the Hudson by Jasper Francis Cropsey & studied 3 Mary Oliver poems: Song for Autumn; Goldenrod, Late Fall; and Snow Geese. Then did some reflective writing using the painting and poems. It was a great session.
#poetrymatters
#12booksof21 #12booksof2021 @Andrew65
Mary Oliver‘s books of poetry are usually at the top of my lists and November was no different!
pickMary Oliver‘s poetry soothes my heart, and I was so glad to curl up with this last night. She was just so good.
I‘m very curious about what this shopping center is/was.
1. The tagged book and my current read (The House in the Cerulean Sea)
2. Mostly by color and sort of by subject.
3. I was trying to take a shelfie selfie with the puppy, but he was having none of it, so you can see the shelves in the background.
pickI understand now why Mary Oliver is so well loved. Her poems use such vivid imagery of nature that I found myself wishing I knew how to paint, and they never once made me feel unintelligent like so much poetry does.
There was more Christian imagery than I expected, which I found jarring and unpleasant, but obviously others will feel differently.
#ReadHarder2021: a book of nature poems.
I keep a daily gratitude journal, and sometimes I find it difficult to do properly. I never run out of things to write down, but there are days I struggle to tap into a genuine feeling of thankfulness.
Luckily, for those days there is Mary Oliver! Her simple poems are magic spells that never fail to make me feel grateful to just be.
Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
Mary Oliver, Mindful
"What you see, Wasabi?" I asked just as a giant teradactyl-shaped shadow passed over us.
We both stood quietly for awhile, watching two bald eagles circling over the cliffs.
1/3 hikes done for #bfc #bfcr3. (Hackensack mtn, 2hrs).
#bookdragons
pickThis is Mary Oliver, and this is exactly where I picture her. She is either walking on the beach, eyes and ears wide open, or somewhere in nature. I only found her a few years ago. Messages of all types kept coming to me with her name, and finally I listened. What a beautiful soul!
This is a short book of simple poems. I absolutely loved it!
Daisies
At my feet the white-petaled daisies display
the small suns of their center-piece, their - if you don‘t
mind me saying so-their hearts. Of course
I could be wrong,perhaps their hearts are pale and
narrow and hidden in the roots. What do I know,
But this:it is heaven itself to take what is given,
to see what is plain; what the sun
lights up willingly...
#poemsbeforephones
One
How blue is the sea,how blue is the sky,
how blue and tiny and redeemable everything is, even you,
even your eyes, even your imagination.
#poemsbeforephones
Song of the Builders
Near me, I saw
a single cricket;
it was moving the grains of the hillside
this way and that way.
How great was its energy,
how humble its effort.
Let us hope
It will always be like this,
each of us going on
in our inexplicable ways
building the universe.
#poemsbeforephones
Mindful
Every day
I see or I hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack of light.
#poemsbeforephones
The Morning I Watched the Deer
The morning I watched the deer
with beautiful lips touching the tips
of the cranberries, setting their hooves down
in the dampness carelessly, isn‘t it after all
the carpet of their house,their home,whose roof is the sky?
#poemsbeforephones
This World
As for spiders, how the dew hangs in their webs
even if they say nothing,or seem to say nothing.
So fancy is the world, who knows, maybe they sing.
#poemsbeforephones
Look and See
This afternoon a gull sailing over
our house was casually scratching
its stomach of white feathers with one
pink foot as it flew.
Oh Lord, how shining and festive is your gift to us, if we,
only look, and see.
#poemsbeforephones
Why I Wake Early
“Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety-“
Although, I have not seen the sun for days, these words allow me to feel its power.
#poemsbeforephones
pickPoetry meets prayer meets self-help meets a walk in the woods. Mostly read to the baby while the toddler napped.
We lost a legend today.
After my coworker told me the news this morning, I set up this small tribute. A customer, who found out from this display, told me she was glad she‘d found out in the bookstore because she was among friends.
I‘m so grateful for the book community.
Rest In peace, Mary Oliver.
What it was like for me to read Mary Oliver‘s poetry for the first time (and countless times since). I‘m sad to know there will be no more words and thankful for all she gave us. #MaryOliver
so-soNot convinced I am a poetry person but this had a few that made me pause with appreciation.
pickI‘d read Upstream, a book of Oliver‘s essays, and knew I wanted to read some of her poetry. This is a lovely collection, and a perfect choice when I needed to redirect my brain and heart towards goodness and peace and gratitude.
#readharder #bookaboutnature @bookriot
Up with insomnia and reading Mary Oliver.
pickEnjoying my Christmas present and finishing my first book of the year. I think Mary Oliver is my favorite poet. I hope to read a lot more of her in the coming year!
pick#90sinJuly #ItWasAGoodDay I've been trying to be more mindful, practice gratitude & find at least one simple thing in each day that delights me & reminds me that it was a good day & it's a good life. The line & poem in the pic captures that & this book of poetry-a #blameitonlitsy library e-book checkout-is beautiful, meaningful & makes me want to read more from Mary Oliver. I like how she communicates the beauty & power of nature in her words.💜📚
"Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." (and in avocado toast with spicy garlic aioli).??This is my first Mary Oliver poetry experience & I'm enjoying it along with my breakfast before tackling some work. When they brought out my avocado toast this morning she said "We made it extra-pretty for Deb." ?I think it may even taste better with the spiral patten of the sauce-or maybe it's the customer service! ?#avotoast ???
The book in the pic is a cozy mystery #ARC and isn't in the Litsy database yet but I am also reading the tagged poetry book--downloaded from the library. A good reason to wake early on Friday is to head to the coffee shop to work and for an Acai bowl & cold brew coffee with coconut milk. Happy Aloha Friday! 🌺 Hooray for the weekend! 🎉
- Mary Oliver 💕 #litsypoetry365
pickIf nature is your religion, these poems are like going to church. This is a #blameitonlitsy read for me. I can't remember who suggested Mary Oliver to me, but thank you! 5⭐️
pickFinished this beautiful little book of poetry in bed first thing this morning. (I am a creature that must sleep.) 🤣#readathon #deweys24hourreadathon
Mary Oliver + Lucky charms + coffee
Feb. 25: Why I Wake Early - "Watch, now, how I start the day / in happiness, in kindness." #LitsyPoetry365
I've abandoned poems these last few days as I've been finding it a chore to search out what I don't know what I'm looking for. Hoping to find some solutions ... #needmorepoetryresources
pickMary Oliver has the power to heal. I picked this up on a whim since my library had it in & her words have been providing me so much headspace. It's like taking a tranquil walk in the woods with her. No matter what sort of mood you're in, her words are peaceful, gentle, and uplifting. She still isn't gonna get me to wake up early, though. 🌳🌸🐌🍃
#poetry #queerbooks
a dusting of snow + twinkle lights + coffee + poetry...winning saturday morning
Grieving the very recent loss of my father and finding some solace in Mary Oliver's words. And of my dad's favs: twain, Wodehouse, Blake and bob Dylan.
