poem in my pocket

This morning I woke up and before fully opening my eyes and welcoming the new day, I mulled over some thoughts about my post for today (yes, that's how much I love my blog...it's the first thing on my mind when I rise and shine!).  I tossed some ideas back forth to myself for a few minutes but nothing was fully resonating with me.  I sighed, thought I know it will come to me, reached for my BlackBerry, and was greeted by the most perfect post topic, courtesy of my beautiful cousin. 

Ah Universe, you sneaky little gem you.

My darling girl wrote an email to inform me that today is Poem in Your Pocket Day, part of National Poetry Month.  How charming! She told me how excited she was to carry a poem around all day and one of the many, many things I love about her is that if she tells you she's carrying a poem around---girlfriend, without a doubt, has it in her pocket :)

She also wrote to me to share a poem that made her think of me.  I fully admit I was a wee bit choked up after reading this poem; I think it was a mix of how simple and sweet and poignant the poem itself is and how kind and thoughtful the email gesture was as well. When anyone ever shares something with me simply because it made them think of me, I am humbled and grateful.  I'm a sucker for simple human connections.

"The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Let's repeat that last line as a mantra, shall we?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I've been a big fan of artist Brian Andreas for a few years now and decided that for my participation in Poem in Your Pocket Day I would choose one of his beautiful and unique pieces to carry with me (it's so hard to choose just one; there are so many wonderful options).  This one is called "Different Plans".

I don't know how long I can do this, he said. I think the universe has different plans for me & we sat there in silence & I thought to myself that this is the thing we all come to & this is the thing we all fight & if we are lucky enough to lose, our lives become beautiful with mystery again & I sat there silent because that is not something that can be said.

If you see me today, ask to see the poem! I promise it's in my pocket :)  Thank you, Jessi, for helping me to start my day off so awesomely and for being a continued source of love and joy in my life!  I am so lucky to be able to call your goddess self a friend.

(I just hope I remember to take it out before I wash my jeans)...

In Gratitude,

Trish