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Post by trinity on Nov 4, 2015 14:56:25 GMT -8
I can't recall seeing many reviews of books of poetry here in the past, but I am increasingly of the opinion that poetry is better able to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world than ordinary prose, and few do this better than Mary Oliver. Why I Wake Early, like most of her poetry, is dedicated to observations of the natural world, with a strongly spiritual flavor. She has a keen eye, and a great gift for capturing the beauty, the majesty, the mystery, and the violence of nature without any of the sentimentality that often accompanies such writing. Included are poems about owls, goldenrod, dovekies, daisies, and a strong need for the solitude that only wilderness can offer. Below is a short poem, one of my favorites from this collection.
The Old Poets of China
Wherever I am, the world comes after me. It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it. Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
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Post by cweston on Nov 4, 2015 18:35:31 GMT -8
Huh...I posted a Mary Oliver poem in another thread today. I guess I shouldn't be surprised
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Post by trinity on Nov 4, 2015 19:05:38 GMT -8
Huh...I posted a Mary Oliver poem in another thread today. I guess I shouldn't be surprised I saw that. In fact, my associate quoted that very poem in her sermon a few weeks ago. Funny how that kind of thing happens. BTW, I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but Mary Oliver was on On Being last month.
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Post by cweston on Nov 4, 2015 19:09:10 GMT -8
Yeah--I listened to that episode. It was awesome.
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Post by graywolf on Nov 12, 2015 11:46:20 GMT -8
I discovered Mary Oliver earlier this year while reading Zen Questions by Taigen Dan Leighton. I've got Why I Wake Early and also House of Light on my Kindle wish list.
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Post by graywolf on Nov 13, 2015 11:52:46 GMT -8
Hey rangersven, the first book usually mentioned is "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki. I would also recommend "No Beginning, No End" by Jakusho Kwong and "being Zen" by Ezra Bayda. Two fiction books that are about Zen Buddhism that I really like are "The Life And Letters of Tofu Roshi" and "Jake Fades". Enjoy, graywolf
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