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Be filled with light and shine

Naomi

Thirst: PoemsMary Oliver could be said to be America’s best-selling poet.  She has won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize and been given many, many awards and honors.  Ever since I spotted a greeting card with her words on it at least five years ago (and took it home and framed it), I have wanted to read more of her.  That card read, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (From “The Summer Day”; New and Selected Poems, Volume One, 1992).

Oliver celebrates the natural world in Thirst: Poems, the book I borrowed from the library and highly recommend (it’s very accessible to non-poetry lovers, I promise).  She writes with gratitude about spirituality, grief, and the glories of the earth and sea.  As soon as I read “When I Am Among the Trees” on page 4, I knew I had to create something that included her words.  Some scrapbook papers, watercolors, oil pastels, embossing, and texturizing and it’s complete.  What do you think?  I’m rather in love with it. 🙂

Mary Oliver Thirst canvas

Here’s a detail shot of the text:

Mary Oliver canvas

“When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver

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.”
This is my favorite post from September and it’s been added to Life on Planet Baby’s
September Post of the Month Club
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22 responses

  1. Jane

    Such a delightful post, Naomi. You have excellent taste in Mary Oliver ☺. Fabulous artwork, my friend. Thanks so much form linking up with the POTMC. J x

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Thank YOU, Jane. I am enjoying meeting some Aussies! (I hope that’s not an offensive word!)

      Reply
  2. stacie

    Beautiful Naomi! Love the colors and the words are so inspirational. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Oh thank you, thank you, Stacie!

      Reply
  3. Pammie

    Such beautiful colours which compliment the words. I can really resonate with them. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      I’m glad you came by to visit Pammie. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Carol Hart

    Love you art piece and am a big fan of Mary Oliver. Well done!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Thanks, Carol!

      Reply
  5. Eydie

    So much create energy is seeping from your inner being.
    I love what you have been creating.

    Loved your email. We definitely need some phone time.
    XOXO

    Reply
  6. Sarah Huizenga

    A wonderful creation Naomi!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Oh thank you, Sarah!

      Reply
  7. Sherri B.

    This is absolutely beautiful…I love it, and I also love Mary Oliver’s poetry. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      And thank you, as always, for reading!

      Reply
  8. madelincwolf

    I feel the soaring of the branches reaching for the light. Beautifully done! Reading the poetry made me tear up. I lost my husband of 26 years last month and I needed lifting up, and to remind myself to reach toward the light and shine. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      I am so glad this spoke to you and could help in some way. You must be one of the reasons I felt compelled to make it and to share it. I hope for lots of lifts up in your near future.

      Reply
  9. Colleen Ray

    I love Mary Oliver too! This is one of my favorites (not sure of the book source or I’d share…does anyone know?) “I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing as though I had wings.”

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Oh yes… Starlings in Winter. Beautiful aspirational words.
      http://www.panhala.net/Archive/Starlings_in_Winter.html

      Reply
  10. kelly

    i love everything about this. the beautiful color, the message, everything. great job!

    Reply
  11. Jennifer Richardson

    exquisite!
    absolutely love this, Naomi!
    something beautiful is exploding inside of you:)
    -Jennifer

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Lol. It DOES feel that way lately. 🙂 Thank you.

      Reply
  12. Anne Camille

    Would be pressing the “Love it” button if one existed!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Aww. Thanks, Anne.

      Reply

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