Moving to move

What of Messenger?

            The degree to which Oliver considers being in nature and observing her job is astounding. She even seems to contrast how foolish it is to focus on something other than developing awe when she illustrates herself as she begins to worry about her appearance, and then brings herself back to what she believes should be her focus: Standing still and learning to be astonished and rejoice.

            Actually, much of this poem seems similar to the one I wrote in my last blog.

           

What of Walking Home from Oak-Head?

            I like a lot of the imagery used in this poem. The dark snowy wood is really nice. I wonder if the Oliver is comparing the snow to stars. Later in the poem, when her shoulders are covered in stars, I wonder if this is related to falling stars.

            A still, unhurried wind. An irrepressible falling snow. The lovely meaninglessness of time. Standing in dark peace. All of these are gorgeous images.

What of Six Recognitions of the Lord?

            Each of the six recognitions provoked a great deal of thought, but one stood out to me personally. As of late I have been recognizing a struggle in my spiritual life: When I pray, I make it about me by trying to say the “right things.” When I realize this, my efforts to correct it feel like attempts to say the right things once again. I struggle to have genuine prayers, sometimes even in private.

            Even though we all read it: “I know a lot of fancy words. I tear them from my heart and tongue. Then I pray.” Obviously, fancy words here means far more than vocabulary or technical terms. I feel that it refers to any attempt at scripted or “performance” prayer. Anything less than fully genuine heartfelt and spirit driven prayer. I thirst for this.

What of Poetry as a Spiritual Practice for Mary Oliver?

            Does tension lead to spiritual fruit? Hmm. I’m inclined to think so. Initially I thought that peace alone leads to understanding and fruit, but now I think tension is essential. In psychology, there is talk about “eustress,” which is a positive stress. Eustress is what gets you out of bed, pushes you to clean and feed yourself, etc. Too much though, can lead to distress, which is harmful and negative. Further, distress only comes when you perceive that you can’t handle the stressors. In theory, you could have an extreme overload of stressors, and be ok with them and just keep growing. Perhaps the tension between Earth and God is the stressor that leads us to growth. Only when we resolve it or consider it too much does it seem like a trouble to us.

What of my trip to Lake Bonny and my poetry?

I went to Lake Bonny, and stayed there for well over 45 minutes. I mostly listened to nature (mostly ducks and frogs) but, admittedly, a few of Relient K’s softer songs. Quietly though, where the sounds of nature could overwhelm the audio.

Writing this poem was not a task. Nature does well at providing any necessary literary/spiritual provocation.

For what or why do Mallards hustle?

As if their seats were not enough.

Compelled at once; the group to bustle

Hurried along, with purpose enough

To waddle so quick and find a place

To rest again and mutter quiet

I laugh at them, but then a trace

Of curiosity. Perhaps I’ll try it.

I move with sudden drive and haste

To perspectives unlike my last.

The life I see is just a taste

Of creations that hasten past

I wonder what all have I missed

In sitting where I think is right

My view is small. “I get the gist

Of what it is.” At least, I might.

I think the ducks might have the truth

Of how our spirits ought to grow.

We look at life with eyes aloof,

But miss the wonders we could know.

How often we’re prodded, but refuse

To move because we cannot see

A reason first. We won’t amuse

Moving to move, or being to be.