Friday, July 13, 2012

Poetry Friday: How Would You Live Then?



A little Mary Oliver. Click on the photo to read a larger version.

How would you live then? I wish I could live all of life the way I live these summer days...

Here's today's roundup.

12 comments:

Robyn Hood Black said...

"What if you suddenly saw that the silver of water was brighter than the silver of money?" - Beautiful. Love the mockingbird as advisor. Thanks for sharing, Ruth - can't go wrong with Mary Oliver or with slowing down to appreciate everyday wonders. :0)

Linda B said...

Mary Oliver doesn't fail to make us happy, does she? Like Robyn, I liked the mockingbird line, and then, the amazing thought of the bees bringing sweetness. Thank you Ruth! I'm happy you're having a lovely summer.

Liz Steinglass said...

Beautiful. And inspiring. I think I might try it as a form and write my own "what if" poem.

Tabatha said...

Fantastic. Thanks, Ruth!

Katya said...

What a beautiful poem. I love the image of painting a picture of a tree and then seeing/hearing the leaves rustle.

Mary Lee said...

I like how, at the end of the poem, I am taken right back to the title and then drawn into rereading and imagining.

On a side note, friends had bees + hive removed from between their walls last week ("vacuumed" out humanely and reintroduced to a better habitat). My friends got to keep some bits of the hive, and when they extracted the honey, they reported that it tasted a bit of dill, which they have growing in abundance in their back garden.

Tara @ A Teaching Life said...

My favorite poet....so wise, elegant and true.

Irene Latham said...

Wise words. Reminds me of a question I read lately: what book would you write if you could only write one? It begs to know why you aren't doing exactly that thing at exactly this moment.... thanks for sharing!

Diane Mayr said...

Mary Oliver always seems to nail it, doesn't she? Thanks for sharing this one.

Violet N. said...

This poem builds to its inevitable climax so simply, yet so powerfully. Wonderful choice for July day!

Lorie Ann Grover said...

Thank you so much for this poem to redirect your hearts!

Irene said...

Such a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing, Ruth!