Poetry By Mary Oliver : The Journey
Lifes Journey, Callan, County Kilkenny
Photography : Nigel Borrington
The Journey
Poetry
By
Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.
Nigel Borrington 
I love Mary Oliver, she’s one of my favorite poets. I hope I could find a copy of her latest book Blue Horses.
November 20, 2014 at 10:15 am
Hello Arlene 🙂 🙂
Thank you – Yes Me too !! That’s a great tip – !!! I will search online today and order 🙂 Thank you !!!
Oh this sound like she paid us HAHAHA!!!
Thank you 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:21 am
Hahaha, I have two of her books 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:25 am
Good for YOU!!!
and what is the name of the other book 🙂 🙂
QVC!!! could not do this better 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:48 am
I have copies of A Thousand Mornings and New And Selected Poems,Vol. 1. I even named one of my posts A Thousand Mornings too which turned our to be my top post.
November 20, 2014 at 10:56 am
Thank you 🙂 🙂
I will come and look at your posts very soon 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 11:03 am
I enjoy how the photographs match the language and imagery of Mary Oliver’s poem, which is one of my favorites. The starkness of the empty road that stretches out inviting into the unknown with the lights flickering hope.
November 20, 2014 at 10:18 am
Hello Arati 🙂 🙂
Thank you , pleasure to share and very pleased you enjoyed 🙂 🙂
Thank you for adding a lot to this post 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 11:29 am
Fantastic night shots Nigel! I love them in B&W 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Hello Norma 🙂 🙂
Thank you , thats great to know your so good at night images – very pleased that you like these 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Great selection.
November 20, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Thanks for sharing this Nigel. I’m familiar with her ‘Wild Geese’ poem which I love, but haven’t come across this one.
December 1, 2014 at 6:53 pm
… and I like your photo too! 🙂
December 1, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Hello Mari 🙂 🙂
Thank you , great to see you and I am very pleased you liked this post 🙂 🙂
December 2, 2014 at 2:58 pm
What a scaring and healthy journey ❤ I like your stylish and expressive photos; the stop sign well placed in the journey.
December 8, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Hello Hanna 🙂
Thank you , Very pleased you enjoyed !!!! 🙂
December 11, 2014 at 4:44 pm