I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything — other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world's otherness is antidote to confusion — that standing within this otherness — the beauty and the mystery of the world, out in the fields or deep inside books — can re-dignify the worst-stung heart.


"Staying Alive" - Blue Pastures (1995)

Mary Oliver Quotes

I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything — other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world's otherness...

I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything — other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world's otherness...

I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything — other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world's otherness...

I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything — other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world's otherness...