The Lily
by Mary Oliver
Night after night
darkness
enters the face
of the lily
which, lightly,
closes its five walls
around itself,
and its purse
of honey,
and its fragrance,
and is content
to stand there
in the garden,
not quite sleeping,
and, maybe,
saying in lily language
some small words
we can’t hear
even when there is no wind
anywhere,
its lips
are so secret,
its tongue
is so hidden –
or, maybe,
it says nothing at all
but just stands there
with the patience
of vegetables
and saints
until the whole earth has turned around
and the silver moon
becomes the golden sun –
as the lily absolutely knew it would,
which is itself, isn’t it,
the perfect prayer?
So very gentle and beautiful 🍂
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Thank you for saying so. 🙂
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Exactly
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I love Mary Oliver’s poetry and this lily is so gorgeous.
Thank you for sharing
miriam
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Mary Oliver’s a treasure, thanks. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Rantings Of A Third Kind and commented:
The Lily ~ By Maverick : Go check out the site; maverickmist.com
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Very kind, thank you.
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Excellent shot!
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Thanks. 🙂
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Majestic and noble flower!
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Lilies are that. 🙂
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gorgeous! beautiful imagery
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Thank you. 🙂
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Vegetables and saints are an odd pairing, even for a poet
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Mary exhibiting patience in the garden. 🙂
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There is a link, below, to another blog about Mary Oliver and both the included poems referenced lilies and, one, the turning of the earth. Recurring themes for her.
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I think she loved lilies. She was a wonderful poet.
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Beautiful ❤😘
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Senin gibi. 😘❤️
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Lilies have always been a favorite of mine, so I love both the picture and the poem! 🙂 Very nicely done.
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Lillies really are beautiful. Thanks M.B. 🙂
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Beautiful!❤️
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Thanks 🙂
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Love the poem by Mary O.! And your image is a perfect companion 🙂
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Thanks Tiny. 🙂
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Everything about this is beautiful. Love the sweet poetry of Mary. RIP Mary.
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Sweet poetry of Mary is a good way to describe it. Thanks Holly. 🙂
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thank you!
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