why I wake early

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who made the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety –

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light –
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

Mary Oliver


This is the poem I shared in class this morning. I know I've shared it in class and here on the blog. Yet I never tire of reading it....both silently and aloud.

I want to share the simple beauty, the simple joy of my day. But I don't want to crowd my head with the details.

So instead I'll share Mary Oliver's brilliant words.
Acknowledge nature as the best preacher there ever was.
Express gratitude for the kindness of others.

And end my day in happiness.