Lorelie and I invite you to read Joyce’s 90th happy birthday post slowly and thoughtfully. At times you will nod your head and often smile. You may pause and consider planning a walk in the woods, a stroll on the beach, or maybe invite a friend to lunch.
Enjoy this celebration of Joyce’s 90th birthday and her travels on the paths of life.
Joyce’s photographs from previous NESTERS are accompanied by other NESTER posts where Joyce has made a comment to the contributor. Mary Oliver wrote all the included poetry and the poems are presented without titles. We are delighted to publish this post for you!
What Is one To Do With Such Moments
What is one to do with such moments, such memories, but cherish them? Who knows what is beyond the known? And if you think that any day the secret of light might come, would you not keep the house of your mind ready? Would you not cleanse your study of all that is cheap, or trivial? Would you not live in continual hope, and pleasure, and excitement?
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 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
with light, and to shine.”
On the beach, at dawn;
four small stones clearly
hugging each other.
How many kinds of love
might there be in the the world,
and how many formations might they make
And who am I ever
to imagine I could know
such a marvelous business?
No sky could hold
so much light –
and here comes the brimming,
the flooding and streaming
out of the clouds
and into the leaves,
glazing the creeks,
the smallest ditches!
And so many stars!
Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled—
to cast aside the weight of facts
and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.
I want to believe I am looking
into the white fire of a great mystery.
I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—that the light is everything—that it is more than the sum
of each flawed blossom rising and fading. And I do.
Let me keep my distance, always,
from the one who think they have the
answers. Let me keep company
always with those who say, “Look!”
and laugh in astonishment, and bow
their head.
A lifetime isn’t long enough for the beauty of this world and the responsibilities of your life.
CREDITS:
Writer: Mary Oliver – “FRIENDS OF SILENCE”
Photographers: Joyce Wagar, Toni Olson, Lorelie Olson, Maureen Mitchell, Jean Guth.
Graphic Designer: Tim Olson
Editors:Lorelie & Tim Olson
NESTER url: https://notesfromanester.com
To view Joyce’s FULL MOON FESTIVAL – click here
