I did not know poet Mary Oliver until her death, last week, at the age of 83. Mary Oliver was an American poet-naturalist. I intend to read all of her work.

Her writing is full of reminders, like this, which is taken from the poem Sometimes:

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

If you are a nature lover, and have a dog, or responsibilities – a life – then maybe this simple piece will speak to you as it does to me.

Percy Speaks While I Am Doing Taxes
(Thirteen)

 

First of all, I do not want to be doing this.
Second of all, Percy does not want me
to be doing this,
hanging over my desk like a besieged person
with a dull pencil and innumberable lists
of numbers.

 

Outside the water is blue, the sky is clear,
the tide is rising.
Percy, I say, this has to be done. This is
essential. I’ll be finished eventually.

 

Keep me in your thoughts, he replies. Just because
I can’t count to ten doesn’t mean
I don’t remember yesterday, or anticipate today.
I give you one more hour, then we step out
into the beautiful, money-deaf gift of the world
and run.