I am moved today by poet Wendell Berry, who — I think — was speaking directly to me this past Sunday night when I laid awake in a spiral of worry over some symptoms that had emerged in my daughter. (She is fine.) Despite having an arsenal of tools to lean on and the strangely comforting vision of a constellation of Magpie moms shouldering the same worries in their own twisted bedsheets (I know, now, I am not alone!), I tossed and turned, and strained for “the presence of still water.” I felt, too, a new sensation: irritation. I was peeved by the familiar trap of my midnight mindset. I know that things always look better in the morning, if for no reason than the turning of a blank page onto which I might throw all of my proactive energy in arranging doctor’s appointments, lining up treatments. I know that I must simply make it to daybreak. And yet, I lay there, stuck. I watched two episodes of “Selena + Chef” to divert myself and eventually tumbled into sleep. I was right, of course. First light brought relief. So, too, did the morning walk with Tilly, a moment to “come into the peace of wild things / that do not tax their lives with the forethought / of grief.” A reminder to get outside…! Mary Oliver would approve.
The poem in full below —
The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry
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 wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with the 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 am free.
Post Scripts.
+More on the miracle of morning.
+When are you at your most creative?
+Berry’s poem reminds me a lot (as indicated above) of Mary Oliver. I love her. (And if you’ve never read here, this is where to start.)
Shopping Break.
+The $30 cover-up we all need. Reminds me of the more expensive gauzey styles from Xirena.
+A set of four punchy velvet throw pillow covers for $32 — would be cute in a play room or reading nook for kids! Such great colors.
+These pants are the perfect shade. So cute with a white poplin top for a crisp, classic, but playful everyday look.
+Self-Portrait vibes for under $100.
+Have shared these Everlane flats a bunch already but they are truly so chic — Mansur Gavriel vibes!
+A lot of buzz around the ultra-pigmented cheek colors from Selena Gomez’s beauty line.
+Also a lot of buzz around Chloe’s woven platform sneakers. What do you think? Are you more drawn to the neutrals?
+Two cute winter boots on sale: these and these.
+Love the shape and hue of these children’s bowls.
+My current favorite gift wrap — we’ve had so many children’s parties these past few weeks and I LOVE this festive paper for littles and bigs alike. (And I always keep cute enclosure cards from Erin Wallace on hand in lieu of needing to buy a Hallmark card for every birthday!)