Well, this week the words just aren’t coming to me, so instead of trying to fake it I’ll leave folks with a few of my favorite words from one of my favorite poets: Mary Oliver. This poem of hers continues with the theme I started exploring last week, a theme that I think is fundamental to any understanding of primitivism, or just life, for that matter. That life (and death) are not to be denied, but instead loved. Please sit with this poem for awhile. Let it sink in deep, if you will. Listen to the words of our brother, the Fox.
Straight Talk from Fox
Listen says fox it is music to run
over the hills to lick
dew from the leaves to nose along
the edges of the ponds to smell the fat
ducks in their bright feathers but
far out, safe in their rafts of
sleep. It is like
music to visit the orchard, to find
the vole sucking the sweet of the apple, or the
rabbit with his fast-beating heart. Death itself
is a music. Nobody has ever come close to
writing it down, awake or in a dream. It cannot
be told. It is flesh and bones
changing shape and with good cause, mercy
is a little child beside such an invention. It is
music to wander the black back roads
outside of town no one awake or wondering
if anything miraculous is ever going to
happen, totally dumb to the fact of every
moment’s miracle. Don’t think I haven’t
peeked into windows. I see you in all your seasons
making love, arguing, talking about God
as if he were an idea instead of the grass,
instead of the stars, the rabbit caught
in one good teeth-whacking hit and brought
home to the den. What I am, and I know it, is
responsible, joyful, thankful. I would not
give my life for a thousand of yours.
–Fox (translated by Mary Oliver)
lovely Glenn, though when I first saw the title I actually laughed out loud thinking you meant Fox News 🙂 Good way to reel me in to read such a lovely poem. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ha! That’s very funny. Puts a whole nuther meaning to the words “Fox News” eh? 🙂