How Wonderful! I speak of the soul and
seven people rise from their chairs and leave the room,
seven others lean forward to listen.
I speak of the body, the spirit, the mockingbird,
the hollyhock, leaves opening in the rain, music, faith, angels
seen at dusk—and seven more people leave the room and are seen running
down the road.
Seven more stay where they are but make murmurous disruptive sounds.
Another seven hang their heads, feigning disinterest though their hearts
are open, their hope is high that they will hear the word even again.
The word is already, for them, the song in the forest. They know already
how everything is better—the dark trees less terrible, the ocean less hungry—
when it comes forth, and looks around with its crisp and lovely eye,
and begins to sing.
by Mary Oliver
Heather Choate Davis 