Elijas

How Would You Live Then? by Mary Oliver

What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks

   flew in circles around your head? What if

the mockingbird came into the house with you and

   became your advisor? What if

the bees filled your walls with honey and all

   you needed to do was ask them and they would fill

the bowl? What if the brook slid downhilll just

   past your bedroom window so you could listen

to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if

   the stars began to shout their names, or to run

this way and that way above the clouds? What if

   you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves

began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang

   from its painted branches? What if you suddenly saw

that the silver of water was brighter then the silver

   of money? What if you finally saw

that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day

   and every day - who knows how, but they do it - were 

more precious, more meaningful than gold?

(typed from the text of my print copy of Devotions)

The artist statement: What if

   the stars began to shout their names, or to run

this way and that way above the clouds? This poem made me think of my poem on a nature walk. Mary Oliver, the poet, wrote a poem that is a motivation to me because I like poetry that uses space and time with our thoughts, which is her expression of the stars and clouds, and the connection to the universe as if the stars had voices, which has inspired me to write more objects that converse with people in ways that make them feel human. I learn that the imagination can be a place to find ways to share poetry and the use of connection with words that find alliteration was fun to look for the words that make the poem sound like a song to the readers. The most challenging part for me is when I start sounding repetitive. I'm proud of some of the poems that came to me easily without much effort. My next journey as a poet is to write one poem daily. And in time, have a collection to share.