All the ingredients are here
Messenger
by Mary Oliver
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
6 Responses to “All the ingredients are here”
Just beautiful, both the words and the photos. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all those you hold dear, Leslie.
Beautiful. We are coming to visit someday and bask in the beauty of your home. Happy Thanksgiving to you and LW. Love you both!!!
Spectacular! I’m giving thanks for you, Leslie, and the beauty that you so generously share. Hope your Thanksgiving weekend was grand.
Thank you, Debbie, Jackie, and Sarah. Love and blessings to each of you.
Gloriously, just pure glory.
♥