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You are here: Home / Wisdom Wednesdays / Sunrise by Mary Oliver

Sunrise by Mary Oliver

April 25, 2012 by Jeane George Weigel

I came upon this poem by Mary Oliver this morning after a glorious sunrise and had to share it.

Sunrise

You can
die for it–
an idea,
or the world. People

have done so,
brilliantly,
letting
their small bodies be bound

to the stake,
creating
an unforgettable
fury of light. But

this morning,
climbing the familiar hills
in the familiar
fabric of dawn, I thought

of China,
and India
and Europe, and I thought
how the sun

blazes
for everyone just
so joyfully
as it rises

under the lashes
of my own eyes, and I thought
I am so many!
What is my name?

What is the name
of the deep breath I would take
over and over
for all of us? Call it

whatever you want, it is
happiness, it is another one
of the ways to enter
fire.

From New and Selected Poems, by Mary Oliver

Love to you all,
Jeane

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Filed Under: Wisdom Wednesdays

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tslredd says

    April 25, 2012 at 6:22 am

    Ah, sunrise! Reminds me of a favorite verse “…But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” (Judges 5:31). And may we all rise with that strength and joy and light.

    • HighRoadArtist says

      April 25, 2012 at 6:50 am

       Beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

  2. Grace says

    April 25, 2012 at 8:48 am

    Lovely…the reminder we are all one.  So I relish your sunrises and sunsets.

    XOXOX

    • HighRoadArtist says

      April 25, 2012 at 8:56 am

      As I do your spring gardens and your sweet heart.  XOXO

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