Thank you, Carrie. This is a much- needed perspective, beautifully expressed. As a wildlife biologist’s daughter I learned the necessity of death so life can be supported, yet I always ached over the death part of the cycle. I have watched a mourning dove become part of a Cooper’s Hawk several times in my back yard where my bird feeders sustain many avian lives, but also become hawk bait. Both/ and. Woodpeckers frequenting the suet, and a pile of feathers in the front yard. I echoed your “Oh no.” Palms together to you, and this painful-glorious world.
Thank you for this beautiful and heartfelt poem. I appreciate the "oh, no" hand to heart love. I will add that to my "aww, honey" hand to heart compassion love that I also learned from you, Carrie. Yesterday I watched a black swallowtail be "born" (they call it hatch), from a caterpillar, to chrysalis, pupa, to a stunning butterfly. We (my husband and I) nurtured it on our potted parsley by shielding it gently. I was struck by the stillness, the utter stillness that it needed to have to develop its wings. A gentle relaxed this-is-what-I do stillness. I watched. I witnessed this miracle. Nature has so many lessons to teach us. Thank you for your continued sharing of what is real, what is good, what is true in your posts, poems and songs. I am honored to be a part of this community. Love, Donna
Carrie, this touched deep cords this morning. I loved what you shared in your opening thoughts about the hunger to stay soft when things are hard. Your poetry and music soften the hard edges for me often. My granddaughter is entering her junior year of college. When I had the opportunity to see you at Eddie's Attic several years ago I shared with you how when she would sit in the back seat of my car she would say, "Mimi, will you play the music from the woman who speaks the beautiful words?" And this is how we refer to you, the one who shared the music and speaks the beautiful words. Also, the goodness in the call to reality - your words - to live in this world is to know this world. Thank you for all the ways you see the beauty and wonder, capture and share it so graciously. Blessings to you.
Your poem speaks the truth of nature. The beautiful along with the ugly. I've seen eagles and hawks capture prey. I've heard the squeal of a rabbit and felt that sad, queasy feeling of a creature being killed. But then I tell myself it's the circle of life. It is how things in nature survive. There wouldn't be the beauty of the eagles and hawks soaring above (a sight that I love) without the ugliness of the kill. And I do mostly see the beauty in the natural wonders that surround us. I appreciate these wonders as blessings in my life.
Thank you for so poignantly putting your experience into words. It’s all there — in the natural world and in your poem. The beauty and the heartbreak. To keep your heart open and bear witness to it all without running to judge or condemn the necessity of survival . . . It is inspiring. I am so immensely grateful for your vision, heart, clarity, courage, and your mastery of language that helps us see and feel alongside you. Thank you.
I’ve been reading through all of your post again… What beautiful comments, images and collective wisdom here! Thank you for sharing with this group. Totally touched by you all!
Oh this is just absolutely beautiful!! Touched me so deeply because so many times in life that is exactly what you have to do...put your hand on your heart and whisper "Oh no" and then find love. Thank you so very much Carrie. It moved me to loving tears. Hugs
Wow, Carrie. I had a very strong emotional reaction while reading this. As a lover of nature I too have experienced the incredible joy, fear and intense sadness that the natural world sometimes brings. But in the end what all of it has taught me is acceptance. That’s the most important thing, acceptance…and of course love.
Nature is truly Awe-full. Terrible and wonderful and amazing. Outside of human morality. I raised rabbits when I was young. Sometimes the mother would eat her young at birth if she did not feel safe. The protein was salvaged from loss that way but it was gruesome to discover.
I mourn the bluebird killed on its nest by house sparrows, the gorgeous red-headed woodpecker hit by a car, the mangled fawn beside the highway. Nature is indifferent but it still hurts my heart.
Like a few years earlier, I looked off my porch as I was feeding squirrels, and a huge buck eating hostas out of my huge garden of them .
We both locked eyes , he won . I was going to go get phone to take a picture. He was still eating when I returned. Then he moved and realized his left front leg was broken below knee . Even with unable to use that leg, he ate , was alert , and hobbled off . Like the last one had no clue how long he would live.
Several days later my security camera saw him still hobbling off into the woods.
So many things we do not see in nature, and 24 7 the cycle begins and ends . He was , is a true example of survival, as he was and might still be continuing the good fight. As we all must . Would love to share a picture of him, pretty majestic
very touching - and always good to remind ourselves, like the difference between a gentle spring rain and a tornado, that the natural world has its dynamics that we are but witnesses to
Thank you. We have to accept the sadness AND the joy and not let either derail us.
Thank you, Carrie. This is a much- needed perspective, beautifully expressed. As a wildlife biologist’s daughter I learned the necessity of death so life can be supported, yet I always ached over the death part of the cycle. I have watched a mourning dove become part of a Cooper’s Hawk several times in my back yard where my bird feeders sustain many avian lives, but also become hawk bait. Both/ and. Woodpeckers frequenting the suet, and a pile of feathers in the front yard. I echoed your “Oh no.” Palms together to you, and this painful-glorious world.
Thank you for this beautiful and heartfelt poem. I appreciate the "oh, no" hand to heart love. I will add that to my "aww, honey" hand to heart compassion love that I also learned from you, Carrie. Yesterday I watched a black swallowtail be "born" (they call it hatch), from a caterpillar, to chrysalis, pupa, to a stunning butterfly. We (my husband and I) nurtured it on our potted parsley by shielding it gently. I was struck by the stillness, the utter stillness that it needed to have to develop its wings. A gentle relaxed this-is-what-I do stillness. I watched. I witnessed this miracle. Nature has so many lessons to teach us. Thank you for your continued sharing of what is real, what is good, what is true in your posts, poems and songs. I am honored to be a part of this community. Love, Donna
Carrie, this touched deep cords this morning. I loved what you shared in your opening thoughts about the hunger to stay soft when things are hard. Your poetry and music soften the hard edges for me often. My granddaughter is entering her junior year of college. When I had the opportunity to see you at Eddie's Attic several years ago I shared with you how when she would sit in the back seat of my car she would say, "Mimi, will you play the music from the woman who speaks the beautiful words?" And this is how we refer to you, the one who shared the music and speaks the beautiful words. Also, the goodness in the call to reality - your words - to live in this world is to know this world. Thank you for all the ways you see the beauty and wonder, capture and share it so graciously. Blessings to you.
Your poem speaks the truth of nature. The beautiful along with the ugly. I've seen eagles and hawks capture prey. I've heard the squeal of a rabbit and felt that sad, queasy feeling of a creature being killed. But then I tell myself it's the circle of life. It is how things in nature survive. There wouldn't be the beauty of the eagles and hawks soaring above (a sight that I love) without the ugliness of the kill. And I do mostly see the beauty in the natural wonders that surround us. I appreciate these wonders as blessings in my life.
Thank you for so poignantly putting your experience into words. It’s all there — in the natural world and in your poem. The beauty and the heartbreak. To keep your heart open and bear witness to it all without running to judge or condemn the necessity of survival . . . It is inspiring. I am so immensely grateful for your vision, heart, clarity, courage, and your mastery of language that helps us see and feel alongside you. Thank you.
I’ve been reading through all of your post again… What beautiful comments, images and collective wisdom here! Thank you for sharing with this group. Totally touched by you all!
I’m ever more aware of this space of in between and wholeness of life. So beautifully written. Thank you 🙏
"Love this world even when it breaks my heart.
Because to live in this world,
Is to know this world,
With all its terrifying, heartbreaking aspects
And still love
With my hand on my heart whispering
"Oh no" "
Oh this is just absolutely beautiful!! Touched me so deeply because so many times in life that is exactly what you have to do...put your hand on your heart and whisper "Oh no" and then find love. Thank you so very much Carrie. It moved me to loving tears. Hugs
Oh Carrie - Jacob Collier....there are not enough words....tears will have to do...thank you❤️
Jacob Collier is amazing!!!
Wow, Carrie. I had a very strong emotional reaction while reading this. As a lover of nature I too have experienced the incredible joy, fear and intense sadness that the natural world sometimes brings. But in the end what all of it has taught me is acceptance. That’s the most important thing, acceptance…and of course love.
Nature is truly Awe-full. Terrible and wonderful and amazing. Outside of human morality. I raised rabbits when I was young. Sometimes the mother would eat her young at birth if she did not feel safe. The protein was salvaged from loss that way but it was gruesome to discover.
I mourn the bluebird killed on its nest by house sparrows, the gorgeous red-headed woodpecker hit by a car, the mangled fawn beside the highway. Nature is indifferent but it still hurts my heart.
"Love nature that is as insistent as vines.
Thorny and sweet as wild raspberry bushes,
Love nature that is as gracious and shady
As a grove of sycamore trees,
Cool and clean as a freshwater lake,
Mysterious as fossils from creatures now long gone,
Impossible as fireflies and luna moths,"
So beautiful! You have such a gift for capturing the tightrope walk of the holy and the hard.
Like a few years earlier, I looked off my porch as I was feeding squirrels, and a huge buck eating hostas out of my huge garden of them .
We both locked eyes , he won . I was going to go get phone to take a picture. He was still eating when I returned. Then he moved and realized his left front leg was broken below knee . Even with unable to use that leg, he ate , was alert , and hobbled off . Like the last one had no clue how long he would live.
Several days later my security camera saw him still hobbling off into the woods.
So many things we do not see in nature, and 24 7 the cycle begins and ends . He was , is a true example of survival, as he was and might still be continuing the good fight. As we all must . Would love to share a picture of him, pretty majestic
very touching - and always good to remind ourselves, like the difference between a gentle spring rain and a tornado, that the natural world has its dynamics that we are but witnesses to