The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry
When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Always a favorite! Thanks I needed it today!
ReplyDeleteme too, Deborah ...
DeleteIndeed, the world offers and we need this today.
ReplyDeleteme too ...
Deletehow many of us these days, are not afforded the simple pleasure of laying by some water and looking up at the stars
ReplyDeleteit's always being offered, just so often I am too tangled up in something to see
DeleteBeth, this poem is beautiful - it really touches my heart. I am now a grandfather (Oliver is 4 1/2 months old). The "fear of what my life and my children's lives may be" is very real to me. Alas, I do not live "where the wood drake rests", so I must rest where I am - in the Lord - and practice my "Christian hope", by knowing all will be well.
ReplyDeleteMany blessing to you!
Regards,
Brian
congratulations, grandpa!
Deletenot so easy for me to relax into it. seems likes I run myself in circles a lot and then collapse into it from exhaustion ...
Woke up this morning fearing "of what my life and my children's lives may be". Berry's poem gave me some comfort and a plan to seek "the peace of wild things".
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting it. I love your blog.
Gary
sometimes in the night when I'm caught in that fear, I try to imagine and take myself down to the place where the wood drake and heron are ... lie down with them under the stars.
Delete