Felicity

by Mary Oliver

There is nothing more pathetic than caution when headlong might save a life, even, possibly, your own.

If you’re John Muir you want trees to live among. If you’re Emily, a garden will do. Try to find the right place for yourself. If you can’t find it, at least dream of it.

All important ideas must include the trees, the mountains, and the rivers.

To understand many things you must reach out of your own condition.

I Wake Close to Morning Why do people keep asking to see God’s identity papers when the darkness opening into morning is more than enough? Certainly any god might turn away in disgust. Think of Sheba approaching the kingdom of Solomon. Do you think she had to ask, “Is this the place?”

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” RUMI

And you don’t mind living with those questions, I mean the hard ones, that no one can answer? “Actually, they’re the most interesting.”