Sunday, March 07, 2010

Two Poems

Flipping through my old journal entries, I came across two poems that I copied down. Rilke and Oliver... So good!
******

I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for
may for once spring clear
without my contriving.

If this sounds arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what i do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has,
streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.

R.M. Rilke
*****

Praying

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones, just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice can speak.

-Mary Oliver

7 comments:

Lynn Pottenger said...

Cool! Thanks for sharing :)

Jenelle said...

I like your style! Rilke + Oliver = my two most read poets. I've decided I need to keep their books right in front of me on my desk because they comfort me and challenge me so.

lisa said...

Nelly, you gave me Rilke and Tait gave me Oliver. What good friends you are! Lynn, nice to hear from you! xo

Jenelle said...

Oh joy! Which Mary Oliver books do you have?

lisa said...

I have Oliver's New and Selected Poems Vol 2 and also Why I Wake Early. But the poem Prayer is from her volume called Thirst.

dana said...

Her dog poems about her little pet, Percy, are delightful...

forget the name of that collection.

How nice to know that M. Oliver connects us so...

she would like her very fine company!
dana

katrina said...

love their simplicity. like you said, sometimes there's too many words about. i am inspired... :)