We describe everything in terms of the road – life, marriage, all is spoken in terms of the journey, the ride, the destination.
I love this Mary Oliver poem, for its truths about the first step… in any decision. I think it’s even more poignant, read aloud by Maria Shriver.
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
Read the rest of the poem here.
–Copyright @ 1986 by Mary Oliver. First published in Dream Work, Atlantic Monthly Press. Reprinted in New and Selected Poems, Volume One, Beacon Press.
Poetry Friday’s at Jama’s Alphabet Soup today. Go for the croissants. Stay for the poetry about croissants. Bring Your Own Napkin.
One of my all-time favorite poems (which is saying something!). I have an interview of Ms. Mary done by Ms. Maria~it’s tucked into a volume of poetry.
Oh, those burning stars. I love Mary Oliver, and I’m pretty fond of Maria Shriver right now, too. Brave sharing!
And I agree about the poignancy of Maria Shriver as reader….
“…which you slowly recognized as your own.”
Oh, yes. I do love Mary Oliver. Thanks for this today, Tanita.
Oh yes. That first step is often the hardest. Good food for thought on this first Friday in October. Oliver is one of my absolute faves too. 🙂