When I Am Among the Trees
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When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often. Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, "Stay awhile." The light flows from their branches. And they call again, "It's simple," they say, "and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine."
Mary Oliver is the author of ten books of poetry, and is the recipient of the National Book Award, the Christopher Award, the L. L. Winship/PEN New England Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. Beacon Press recently released a new CD of Ms. Oliver’s work entitled “Mary Oliver reads Mary Oliver,” and she will be releasing a new book in the fall entitled Thirst.
