Morning Devotions
Birdsong and Poetry at Dawn
Over a year ago, I purchased a book of Mary Oliver poems called Devotions. It sat on my shelf until this morning. It felt as though my heart had spoken to my mind, saying it was time. So, I brought the book outside with my coffee in tow and began to read.
As night gave way to morning light, I drank in the sun and witnessed an operatic duel between a Carolina wren and an American goldfinch. Their arias filled the air, and I marveled at the beauty of it all. The moment deepened when I came across the second poem in the book, This Morning, and I thought I’d share it with you.
This Morning
This morning the redbirds’ eggs
have hatched and already the chicks
are chirping for food. They don’t
know where it’s coming from, they
just keep shouting, “More! More!”
As to anything else, they haven’t
had a single thought. Their eyes
haven’t yet opened, they know nothing
about the sky that’s waiting. Or
the thousands, the millions of trees.
They don’t even know they have wings.
And just like that, like a simple
neighborhood event, a miracle is
taking place.
- Mary Oliver
Beautiful! We are so lucky to have birds. I tell you something, I even enjoy the crows. Shhh... don't tell my neighbors.
Mary Oliver never fails to inspire me. Thanks for this gorgeous share, Sam! 🧡