happiness, when it’s done right, is a kind of holiness
Poppies
orange flares; swaying
in the wind, their congregations
are a levitation
of bright dust, of thin
and lacy leaves.
There isn’t a place
in this world that doesn’t
sooner or later drown
in the indigoes of darkness,
but now, for a while,
the roughage
shines like a miracle
as it floats above everything
with its yellow hair.
Of course nothing stops the cold,
black, curved blade
from hooking forward—
of course
loss is the great lesson.
But also I say this: that light
is an invitation
to happiness
and that happiness
when it’s done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.
Inside the bright fields,
touched by their rough and spongy gold
I am washed and washed
in the river
of earthly delight—
and what are you going to do—
what can you do
about it—
deep, blue night?
-Mary Oliver
[Thanks to Janet Smith for pointing me to this poem, and to my neighbors Emma and Hilary for hosting poppies in their front yard.]
