The Journey: A memory

Mary Oliver

It’s the beginning of the month, which means it’s time for a new Memory, the side of Poetry & Process where we come together to memorize poetry. We conduct this practice to engrain words of meaning into our minds, bodies and beings that will serve as a companion during our walk through life. While each life is unique, the situations we encounter and the emotions we face have been felt by many who have walked before us. Poems we know deeply can speak what we need to hear at the most opportune times.

Memory will typically be released on the first of each month. I’m publishing later this month as I was on a vacation with my family last week. Thank you for your patience and I hope you will feel inspired to sit with this poem for the remainder of July.

If you are not a paying Poetry & Process subscriber, you have access to all of the newsletters, including Memory. The thread in the chat function is only available for paying subscribers. To join us, use the link below for a free season (3 months).

May you stride deeply into the world…

-Brian

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Photo by Annie Spratt

For July, we turn our attention to a poem of empowerment and reminder….

The Journey by Mary Oliver

Text:

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Spoken:

Video:

The Poet:

If you are interested in Mary Oliver’s biography, check out this summary on Poetry Foundation.

Chat:

This is the point in our memorization process where we move the conversation to a Thread in the Chat function in the SubStack app/website. The text of the poem is posted there for paid subscribers to read and come back to. Check in today and throughout the week to hear how others in this community are memorizing the poem, the impact it is having on their week, and to discuss the themes in the poem.

If this community interests you, use the below link for a free season (3 months) of the Memory community.

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Make this experience your own, choosing how you approach the poem’s content, your memorization process, and connect with the community in the chat.

I look forward to the conversation!

Brian

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