Invitation | Mary Oliver
by Elouise
This morning I’m tempted to rush into battle mode. So many things are going so wrong. This poem from Mary Oliver helped restart my day–though I’m still not sure what will come of it. My comments follow.
Invitation
Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busyand very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistlesfor a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the airas they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mineand not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude—
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thingjust to be alive
on this fresh morning
in this broken world.
I beg of you,do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.© 2008 by Mary Oliver; poem found on pp. 18-19 of Red Bird
Published by Beacon Press
The line from Rainer Maria Rilke is found at the end of his poem, Archaic Torso of Apollo. There, as here in Mary Oliver’s poem, we’re offered no clear interpretation of “You must change your life.”
Here’s how I’m thinking about it today:
This shared world, filled with beauty, seems intent on self-destruction. Would we throw it all away by refusing to act, just once, with beauty and courage? Do the unexpected? Change the conversation, or our knee-jerk reactions to things that annoy and offend us?
Perhaps the most courageous thing I can do today is as simple as a smile. Especially in tense or fearful situations. We say a smile is worth a thousand words. It’s what most of us are starving for every day. True, smiles won’t heal or resolve every problem. Nor are all smiles to be trusted.
Still, Mary Oliver challenges us to stop, listen and (I think) smile at these crazy beautiful goldfinches. They just can’t stop singing for sheer delight and gratitude! Trying, perhaps, to tell us something we desperately need to hear from each other?
Thanks for stopping by!
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 7 July 2020
American Goldfinch songs found on YouTube
I love ‘my’ goldfinches. Thanks for the poem.
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You’re so welcome! “Your” goldfinches are blessed to be loved by you. 😊
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Finches are so sweet, beautiful, and what wonderful songs they sing. 🙂
You know Mary Oliver is a fav of mine, so anytime I can read her words..’tis good. 🙂
Yes, people need positives more than ever before. We must keep doing and saying things that bring smiles. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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How are you doing today? Looking at your smiley faces, I can’t help saying you’ve sown a world full of smiles, and I’m so happy some of them came my way! Enjoy singing with the finches today! 🙂 They’re smiling right back at you. Hugs and prayers from me to you. 🙂
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Doing well! Thank you for asking! 🙂
I’m focusing on the positives! I’ve so much to be grateful for…so I list those people, and things, every morning to start my day! 🙂
I am thankful for you, Elouise, and the joy you bring! Your writings always lift me up, encourage me, challenge me, inspire me, ETC! 🙂
(((HUGS))) and prayers 🙂
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I’m glad to hear it! I love your gratitude list for each morning. What a great way to begin the day. 🙂 And, I’m so glad you’re thankful for me! Sometimes it’s difficult to feel thankful for ourselves. So knowing someone else does this it really really wonderful. 🙂 I think you just stoked my tank! 🙂
Elouise
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YAY for tank-stoking. 🙂 :- 🙂
Yes, I’m always having to work on being thankful for me. But, I’m getting better at it as I get older. 🙂
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I love this poem – thanks so much for reminding me of it.
Oh, I’m about four or five sermons in to Deliverance to the Captives – so glad you recommended it!
Grace and peace to you…
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Hi, dw! Thanks for the comment. And I’m so happy you’re enjoying Barth’s sermons! 🙂
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It’s amazing what a smile does even in the supermarket as you pass someone in the aisle. They smile back or make a comment. When social distancing first started no one looked at anyone as though we were each others enemies. But now we are starting to see people and smile again.
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Thanks for this comment! Yes, you’re right. I notice more smiles when I’m out walking in the neighborhood (even though I’m wearing a mask), or even passing people in the hallway when I’m on my way to the doctor! 🙂
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Hi! I have been obsessing over this poem for quite a few days now. Just wanted to let you know that this interpretation of yours really made me…smile 🙂
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I’m so happy it made you smile! Thank you most kindly for letting me know. 🙂
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