Bloganuary: What is a song or poem that speaks to you and why?
I recited Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day at my mom’s celebration of life. You’d think that, as a writer, I could come up with my own words. But that wasn’t happening. Some writers are brilliant in the moment, conjuring up the right thing to say without hesitation.
My writing BFF Darcy was like that. She could dazzle at a moment’s notice. On the other hand, I need to pause. I need to think and then go think some more.
These days, I’m more comfortable telling people I need to think before I produce words or give them an answer.
But back to the poem. It does encapsulate my mom’s love of nature. She had deep passions that included birding and gardening. Despite life-long and chronic back pain, she did both for as long as she was able.
I want to do things for as long as I’m able as well.
Perhaps this is why I hear the echo of those last lines more and more frequently:
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
And I pause. I stop what I’m doing—the busy work, the chores, or whatever—and remember I only have this one wild and precious life.
And I want to embrace it for as long as I’m able.
Writing Wrongs 