My friend, Meg, introduced me to this line from a Mary Oliver poem called “Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches”.
The line is:
Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life
When I read this line, it really resonated with me. It immediately reminded me of the excuses I hear over and over about why a person can’t do something, specifically with regards to travel, since that’s my world. But hey, I’m as guilty as anyone of making excuses when it comes to other aspects of my life.
I went on to read the rest of this poem, and was pleasantly surprised at its complete beauty. While I read into it all the references to traveling, I’m sure a yogi could easily reason that it was written for his or her community and a gardener that it was written for her.
No matter your path, are you breathing just a little?
Happy Travels!
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Meg Noble Peterson says
Thanks, Beth, for using that quote. It is so perfect and, as you say, relates to every aspect of life, every risk we contemplate taking, every little moment that can either be enjoyed and lived to the fullest, or dreaded for the problems we fear may lie ahead.
I just realized, as I was going to ask you for the “rest of this poem,” that all I needed to do was press on those words and an amazing, beautiful poem comes up. Thanks so much for finding it. You are one of the best internet researchers I’ve met!
Meg
http://www.megnoblepeterson.com
Jeremy Sullivan says
Wow, that one line is really quite thought provoking. Thanks for sharing it and its parent poem too. Good find.