does the grain of sand
know it is a grain of sand
in any order
Does the grain of sand
know it is a grain of sand?
Will secrets fly out of me
when I break open?
Are the stars standing
in any order?
Is supplication
useful?
Exactly.
Riprap #8 as published in The Leaf and Cloud by Mary Oliver (Da Capo: New York, 2000)
In the fly leaf to the copy of The Leaf and Cloud that I have is written:
AN ASTONISHING book-length poem in seven parts from the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award With piercing clarity and craftsmanship, Mary Oliver has fashioned this unforgettable poem of questioning and discovery, about what is observable and what is not, about what passes and what persists.
Questioning and discovery.
About what is observable and what is not.
About what passes and what persists.
My regular readers know how I love to brag that when I am in the office, I get to spend my lunch hour walking the beach on the Atlantic Coast of South Carolina.
I take a sandy path through a salt marsh and then beach grass to the waters edge.
Its the same every day.
It is different every day.
It passes.
It persists.
It is observable.
It is unseen.
Does the grain of sand know it is a grain of sand?
Are the stars standing in any order?
Is supplication useful?
Observable or unseen?
There is a story told that back in World War 2, at one of the summit meetings of President Franklin Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshall Josef Staling, Mr. Churchill mention that the point of view of the Pope should be considered on some point.
Mr. Stalin famously rebuked Mr. Churchill, saying something like, “The Pope, how many divisions does he have?”
Most historical accounts stop there.
But some do include Mr. Churchill’s response.
He said, “Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.”
Are the stars standing in any order?
Is supplication useful?
Observable or unseen?
EXACTLY!
No Haiku For You 