Saturday, September 4, 2010

Summer Story



When the hummingbird
sinks its face
into the trumpet vine
into the funnels
of the blossoms
and the tongue
leaps out
and throbs

I am scorched
to realize once again
how many small, available things
are in this world

that aren't
pieces of gold
or power-------
that nobody owns

or could but even
for a hillside of money-----
that just float
in the world,

or drift over the fields,
or into the gardens,
and into the tents of the vines,
and now here I am

spending my time,
as the saying goes
watching until the watching turns into feeling,
so that I feel I am myself

a small bird with a terrible hunger
with a thin beak probing a dipping
and a heart that races so fast

it is only a heart beat ahead of breaking---
and I am the hunger and assuagement
and also I am the leaves and the blossoms
and, like them, I am full of delight and shaking.
Mary Oliver




8 comments:

  1. Hummingbirds and Mary Oliver... tow of my favorite things! Lovely post...

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  2. Beautiful hummingbird shots, and beautiful post! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. What a lovely and moving post. It speaks to me about the fragility of so many things around us and at the same time perseverance and purpose.

    Thank you for your visits and kind words. I am finally starting to feel familiar and "at home" again as if I've been away from everything and everyone a very long time. It is humbling to visit other blogs and catch up on others and see that I missed opportunities to give back a little of the support that never fails me. So I am sorry I have missed those opportunities with you. I am very sorry to read about Lily and can only imagine how deep your loss is. I can only send my e-hugs and let you know I am thinking of you.

    I will try to stay more caught up now that I seem to feel alive again. Your blog is always such a lovely place to visit. Have a great rest of the weekend and I anticipate the approaching fall right along with you!

    marsha

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  4. A beautiful post and beautiful photos. I have never seen a hummingbird but I really would like to!

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  5. I used to have one of those feeders... where did it go? I do love the hummers so much. I am lucky to have a lot of flowers they love & they visit often (as do the butterflies). You got some great shots of these little jewels. I found out from Holly that you are Julie's sister... I didn't know she had a sister. You are both lucky girls. I just did a post with Julie in it. Have a great Labor Day Weekend. Charlene

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  6. What beautiful images and words. I am fascinated by hummingbirds. I saw one once on a holiday. I have never forgotten it.

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  7. You are an amazing photographer these are beautiful..

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  8. What beautiful photos and poem. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets.

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