Mary Oliver, "The Buddha's Last Instruction"

19 points · 7 comments · view on lemmy.world

7 Comments

ben16w@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y (2 replies)

I Worried

By Mary Oliver

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it? 

Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better? 

Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless. 

Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia? 

Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing. And gave it up. And took my old body and went out into the morning, and sang.

Treedrake@fedia.io · 1 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I love this one too. I love many of Oliver's poems. They all feel so sincere, and grateful, and loving. I think she manifests what life should be about in a very beautiful way.

ben16w@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y

The one I posted is my favourite poem but I've not read any others of hers, I give them a read.

Treedrake@fedia.io · 4 pts · 2y

“As a lamp, a cataract, a star in space an illusion, a dewdrop, a bubble a dream, a cloud, a flash of lightning view all created things like this.”

― The Diamond Sutra (transl. by Red Pine)

Coelacanth@feddit.nu · 1 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I really like the poem, but the background makes it terrible to read. Anyone else experiencing this?

Treedrake@fedia.io · 2 pts · 2y

Sorry, found it on the web

BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y

Nice one!