Those Three Things We Are Born To

Those Three Things We Are Born To

Oxherding_pictures,_No._10

My most recent post was a list of three bits of sound advice from three guys. To cap that, I add this, the tag end of Mary Oliver’s poem In Blackwater Woods. It is the sum total of my spiritual life. Just about all of it. Nearly the whole thing. I thought you might find it useful, as well…

To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it
go,

to let it go.

I didn’t say they would be easy. But, nonetheless, do I hear an amen?


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!