I brought home a stack of books from the library last week, a stack so tall I pinched the skin of my arm somewhere in the middle of the pile. Ouch! But a mostly lovely day of reading. (I won't mention the one I wanted to throw across the room.) Ouch!
This one was one of my favorites. I have always loved Mary Oliver's poetry, but this book was like having a conversation with the poet. It is a beautiful book that you should read, even if it pinches your skin.
I love this poem from the book. These excerpts are from the beginning and the end. Click here to hear Garrison Keilor read the entire poem on The Writer's Almanac.
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| Photo courtesy PDPics |
from First Yoga Lesson
by Mary Oliver
"Be a lotus in the pond," she said, "opening
slowly,
"Feel your quadriceps stretching?" she asked.
Well, something was certainly stretching
I lay on the floor, exhausted.
But to be a lotus in the pond
opening slowly, and very slowly rising--
that I could do.
Wishing you moments of slow, gentle opening, rising, being.
Be sure to visit Linda at TeacherDance for today's roundup.
This fits you well, at least your classes, Dori. It made me chuckle, "well, something was certainly stretching". Thanks for it, and hope the pinching feeling has gone. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. "Opening slowly, and very slowly rising--/that I could do." I will keep these lines in my heart today.
ReplyDeleteI love this book it was a gift from a friend I also like the poem you shared
ReplyDeleteI think I need to make a trip to the library for this book!
ReplyDeleteThe yoga poem fills my heart today. Since I tore my rotator cuff I have not been back to yoga and I do long for it. Thank you for sharing the poem and the photo. It is such a soothing picture.
ReplyDeleteI've been away from yoga too! There are so many things I've learned from yoga class. One of my favorites is to meet the body where it is in the moment, with no "shoulds" or "but I could do it yesterday." Beautiful poem.
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