"green mosses, being so many, are as good as brawny"
What do you feed to opinions?
Zwei mit Katzen spielende Mädchen (1907), Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (German, 1880-1938)
Yes! No!
by Mary Oliver
How necessary it is to have opinions! I think the spotted trout
lilies are satisfied, standing a few inches above the earth. I
think serenity is not something you just find in the world,
like a plum tree, holding up its white petals.
The violets, along the river, are opening their blue faces, like
small dark lanterns.
The green mosses, being so many, are as good as brawny.
How important it is to walk along, not in haste but slowly,
looking at everything and calling out
Yes! No! The
swan, for all his pomp, his robes of grass and petals, wants
only to be allowed to live on the nameless pond. The catbrier
is without fault. The water thrushes, down among the sloppy
rocks, are going crazy with happiness. Imagination is better
than a sharp instrument. To pay attention, this is our endless
and proper work.
from White Pine: Poems and Prose Poems, 1994
Creative Invitation
Reflect on your attentions, opinions and delusions. What are your cherished delusions? What sacrifices do you make to feed them? I feed mine honey butter and bitcoin, polyester and hope. I daresay we all feed oil and gas to our delusions. What else do you offer at the altar?
How have you been honoring your yes! and no! these days? What are you paying attention to anew?