“Oh Lord, how shining and festive is your gift to us, if we only look, and see.” ~ Mary Oliver (“Look and See”, Why I Wake Early)
photo by vgtortoise
What do you see when you look out your window?
Thank goodness for Mary Oliver when you need a good share of hope, a reminder to turn your face to the light. Poppies speak of many things, in general, the imagination — but yellow stands for wealth and success, red for pleasure, white for peace. Enjoy Oliver’s “invitation to happiness” and this photo bouquet of color, beauty, joy, remembrance. Bask in the light of her words and shine on. 
photo by mamavenezia
POPPIES
by Mary OliverThe poppies send up their
orange flares; swaying
in the wind, their congregations
are a levitationof bright dust, of thin
and lacy leaves.
There isn’t a place
in this world that doesn’tsooner or later drown
in the indigos of darkness,
but now, for a while,
the roughageshines like a miracle
as it floats above everything
with its yellow hair.
Of course nothing stops the cold,black, curved blade
from hooking forward—
of course
loss is the great lesson.But I also say this: that light
is an invitation
to happiness,
and that happiness,when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.
Inside the bright fields,touched by their rough and spongy gold,
I am washed and washed
in the river
of earthly delight—and what are you going to do—
what can you do
about it—
deep, blue night?~ from New and Selected Poems, Vol. I (Beacon Press, 1993)
photo by Pat’s Picks36
photo by migrantmendicant
photo by Janice Sheehan
photo by JohnL46
photo by The Pack
photo by gerrygoal2008
photo by ludi_ste
photo by Cristina 63
photo by lady.bracknell
photo by gingerkillercat
photo by Emmalouise G
photo by charlie191
photo by Bruceman_200
photo by elaine.gregg
photo by Susan Taylor Brown
♥ For even more loveliness and light, visit Susan Taylor Brown’s Poppiness Shop at Etsy.com!
* * *
The always lovely Violet Nesdoly is hosting the Roundup today. Enjoy the sweet wonder and fragrance of the many poems being shared in the blogosphere this week, and have a good holiday weekend!
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Copyright © 2013 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Oh, I just love it when the Tuscan fields are covered in red-orange poppies, thousands and thousands of them flittering there in the breeze. Thank you for sharing this buoyant poem – I love the challenge at the end – and all those bursts of color.
Lucky you, to be able to see that in person!
I’ve always loved poppies but I’ve never had a patch sunny enough to grow them until this house… maybe I’ll actually put in a flower bed this year. Thank you for sharing Mary Oliver’s bright poem.
Hope you try to grow them!!
Such a wonderful burst of color for a grey winter day!
We’ve had a dreary, gray week here too — I needed a pick-me-up
. . .
What a beautiful poem and what vibrant poppies! My dad grows several varieties in his garden in Colorado. They are spectacular!
Wonderful! I’m always envious of people with flower gardens
. Thanks for visiting, Penny.
Those orange/red California poppies are so delightful. They ‘pop’ up in surprising places, little gifts each day all summer. Thanks for this beautiful poem. She just claims the words every time, doesn’t she? A shining poem! Thanks Jama.
Yes, Mary Oliver always seems to have just the right words for whatever ails you. I’m surrounded by bare branches and brown leaves — wish some of those bright California poppies could miraculously sprout up around here!
Those poppies and poem are beautiful! I needed to read those words
So glad to hear that, Catherine
!
Fabulous poem and pictures! Reminds me of growing up in California and the poppies dotting the fields by the road side. Thank you for sharing. Happy Friday! =)
Happy Friday to you too, Bridget — I’m definitely missing something by not living in California — saw so many beautiful photos of those wild poppies there.
Beautiful poem to share, especially here in the cold, snow-covered hills of New Hampshire!
We’ve been very lucky with snow this year — feels a little strange but I’m not complaining.
Just what I needed! (again and again). Thank you!
I’m so glad — have a beautiful weekend, Jeannine!
Hi, Jama. I’ve always been fond of poppies (Poppy was my nickname for my grandfather, who died rather young). The idea of the poppies and their flaming color challenging the night — so lovely. Thank you for sharing this poem.
What a great nickname! Glad you enjoyed the poppy goodness today, Laura.
Thanks for this beautiful poem, Jama. I’m especially struck by these lines:
>>and that happiness,
when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,<<
Happy Poetry Friday!
My favorite lines too, Carmela. I need to keep remembering that thought.
Joy on the menu today, I see! Thank you for sharing this poem, Jama.
I had highlighted the same phrase Carmela did to especially praise – beyond lovely. After so many gray, wet days the sun came out here today (Georgia), and it made me feel the way Oliver’s poem here does.
We had some sunlight too — I had *almost* forgotten what a difference it makes in one’s mood!
I especially like: I am washed and washed
in the river
of earthly delight—
You outdid yourself with the river of poppy photos, Jama!
Oh, to bathe in the beauty of Mary’s words! Beautiful lines, Tabatha — kind of a wonderful soul cleanse.
What a beautiful collection of photographs!! The vibrant colors and clear images of those beauties took me in. I kept scrolling up and down. Such a delight in my eyes. Here are my favorite lines:
But I also say this: that light
is an invitation
to happiness,
and that happiness,
when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.
Thank you for sharing all these Friday treats, Jama!! =)
Those are definitely my favorite lines in the poem, too! Glad you enjoyed all the photos. I always get a little color starved during the winter months . . .
Oh my goodness, Fats! I just realized that we quoted the exact same lines. You are truly my baby girl!
Ah, Mary Oliver…I needed the warmth and joy of this poem on this dreary winter day. And those photographs are just glorious. Thank you, Jama.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Tara. Thanks for stopping by
.
Who would dare to argue with Mary Oliver or a bright poppy? Thanks for the glow today. We are seeing our first sunshine this year. A day to notice and celebrate!
Sounds like a lot of us are grateful for some sunshine today. Have a great weekend, Margaret !
Mmmm…this really warmed up my day! Thanks for sharing!
Happy to hear that — thanks for visiting
!
Oh my, that poem together with all the lovely photos you found have just given me shivers. You’re right–this does make me want to “shine on.” Thanks so much for being part of Poetry Friday, as always. Have a light-filled weekend.
Thanks again for hosting this week, Violet (how apt you have a flowery name, and that Ms. LaTulippe was the first commenter).
Hope your weekend is the best!
[...] Friday Feast: Celebrating Mary Oliver’s “Poppies” by the fabulous Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup – comment by Fats [...]
I was lost in poppy wonderfulness until I saw that fuzzy, inquisitive poodle noodling the orange poppies. Appreciated by two foots AND four foots!
Poppy puppy — we aim to please
.
You are always such a source of joy, light, and yummylicious vibrant poppies and Mary Oliver goodness. I can never thank you enough for introducing me to this beautiful poet who speaks my soul’s whispers in such a crystal voice and pristine verse:
“But I also say this: that light
is an invitation
to happiness,
and that happiness,
when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.”
Here’s to redemption, dearest Jama. And love. And colors. And light.
This reminds me that I have just drafted an advance post last night for one of the photo challenges we usually join – G is for Greens. I know that in some parts of the world, the weather may be a bit dreary and gloomy, I wrote that post – a celebration of the greens I see around me on campus every single day – to add a drop of sunshine in your days. Won’t be up though til the next few weeks. But just goes to show that we’re practically on the same wavelength – you know what they say about fab people… and great minds…
LOL! Great minds — yes!!
Green is my favorite color, not to mention that it’s scarce outside these days, so I’m really looking forward to your post.
Your comment is poetry in itself, Myra — Mary’s words are indeed pristine and crystal clear. Always uplifting and enlightening to see the natural world through her eyes.
What a nice surprise on a cold winter night. The always wonderful Mary Oliver. And the colors of all those poppies!
Have a lovely weekend, Michelle!
I didn’t know poppies came in so many colors. (I haven’t read all the comments — probably eighty people said this already.) I love the Mary Oliver poem, too, the “levitation of bright dust.” Beautiful.
I was surprised by all the colors too — I guess most of us think mostly in terms of red poppies
. Glad you like the poem.
Poppies come in colors other than red?! I didn’t know that, Jama. Beautiful pictures and words, as always. Hope your weekend is sunny like mine.
Yes, we’re having some nice sunshine this weekend! Have fun, Kathleen
.
Jama, Oh, thank you for the bursts of poppy color. Just what those of us in snow country need now., along with Mary Oliver, of course. These are my favorite lines:
and that happiness,
when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.
Inside the bright fields,
Glad you enjoyed the poppiness, Joyce. Keep warm up there
.
that helped clear away some of the dull winter drudgery. i miss spring time.
What a difference a little color and sunshine makes — we’re in for some colder temps so I’d better look for more pics
.
Okay, this is really nice on a very cold day, even if I’m late getting to it.
I know I’ve read that before, but somehow it was like reading it anew here. So good. Just so, so good.
I need the poppies more today than last week — we had our first snowfall last night!
[...] Well, this post from Jama Rattigan, which features a Mary Oliver poem, just brightened my [...]