Monday, January 21, 2019

no crumbs allowed


“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happened better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb."

― Mary Oliver, Swan: Poems and Prose Poems


While it seems as though I never quit reading poetry~I was actually reading some Mary Oliver the day prior to her passing. I feel lucky that I got to hear her do a reading in Seattle a few years ago. And while she had a long career, I only truly met her words when I started grad school.

Today's joy is that I get to stay inside and watch the ice melt off my windows. It's COLD.

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