WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
I found this, this morning at https://www.brainpickings.org, Maria’s blog is my favourite and a gorgeous personal space I explore regularly when I need some literary time out.
The photograph is from Western Australia near Dunsburough. I loved it there. I am returning there next year and running a ‘Short Lens’ there. Short Lens is my new combination of a photography workshop and tour, all inclusive luxury offering where I pick you up from Perth airport, look after you, teach and inspire you and take you to amazing locations to photograph all between Monday and Friday. https://www.lensschool.com/workshops-tours/short-lens-cape-naturaliste
Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2019