14 Elul 5776
by Paula Pitluk
I have read Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Journey” many times over the years and have it hanging over my desk.
It speaks to me of leaving, but more than that, of beginning. It speaks of first steps. It speaks of being awake in the world. What better time than this to take those first steps?
The Journey ~ by Mary Oliver
One day you nally 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 sti ngers
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.
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Lovely and forwarding poem. Paula, when your Echo came through I was at a funeral service for my friends beloved dog and we read Mary Oliver’s, Her Grave. I guess we all owe Mary some thanks for her amazing gift.