Terrain III, oil on canvas, 32 x 32 inches, © 2011 Diane McGregorSleeping in the Forest
I thought the earth
remembered me, she
took me back so tenderly, arranging
her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichen and seeds. I slept
as never before, a stone
on the riverbed, nothing
between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated
light as moths among the branches
of the perfect trees. All night
I heard the small kingdoms breathing
around me, the insects, the birds
who do their work in the darkness. All night
I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling
with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
I thought the earth
remembered me, she
took me back so tenderly, arranging
her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichen and seeds. I slept
as never before, a stone
on the riverbed, nothing
between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated
light as moths among the branches
of the perfect trees. All night
I heard the small kingdoms breathing
around me, the insects, the birds
who do their work in the darkness. All night
I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling
with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
Mary Oliver, from Twelve Moons
3 comments:
wonderful to see your new work Dianne. and although I have Twelve Moons and have had for years I dont remember that poem, but love it immensely. I hope your winter was fruitful for you and the spring brings many new works. I just completed another course with Leslie Avon Miller and it was most inspiring! be well, Suki
Thank you, Suki. I can never get enough of Mary Oliver! I hope all is well with you and your new home.
Great work, here.
I was hoping for an even higher resolution photo to examine the stroke detail, alas, I enjoy this piece all the same.
The forest you reference is more snow-covered for me, surrounded by a rusted steel fence I've become entranced in.
All the same, this work is very urban for me as well - high above sprawl is one that comes to mind...
Really great.
Post a Comment