The Peace of Wild Things

 

I am grateful to my friend Sue Hetherington who reminded me of one of my favourite poems by Wendell Berry in her daily posts Fresh Insight from the Quiet Edge. Berry’s words spoke deeply to me considering all the pain in our world, particularly this past week. I took the liberty of changing wood drake to water buck to align with my image. Nature is a powerful resource for solace and comfort. I hope this post brings you some peace and comfort too.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

And I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the water buck

rests in her beauty by the water,

and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world and I'm free.

 

Wendell Berry, from The Peace of Wild Things Penguin, 2018

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