Every dayI see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight,

that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light.

It was what I was born for- to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world-

to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation.

Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant-

but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar,I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise

with such teachings as these- the untrimmable light of the world, the ocean’s shine,

the prayers that are made out of grass?

~Mary Oliver

when I remember why I love this life…

inquiry for today~ live into poetry today….

home to the real world

The supreme prayer of my heart is not to be learned, rich, famous, powerful, or “good”, but simply to be radiant. I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm, courage, and good will. I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected – as ready to say “I do not know”, if it be so, and to meet all men and women on an absolute equality – to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. I wish others to live their lives, too – up to their highest, fullest, and best. To that end I pray that I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I’ll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say, I desire to be radiant – to radiate life.

~Timothy Kirkbride