Holds Upon Happiness

I come back to Mary Oliver’s poetry fairly frequently. It is very approachable poetry and it reminds me of the New England area I lived in for years and still love. I would love to be walking along the shore, smelling the salty air, and feeling the sand beneath my feet. One day in summerwhen everythinghas already been more than enoughthe wild beds startexploding open along the bermof the sea; day after dayyou sit near them; day after daythe honey keeps on comingin the red cups and the beeslike amber drops rollin the petals: there is no end,believe me! to the inventions of summer,to the happiness your bodyis willing to…

Donald Hall was an American poet, editor, and literary critic. His poetry “explores the longing for a more bucolic past and reflects (an) abiding reverence for nature.” Hall attended Harvard and Oxford University. He was married to the poet, Jane Kenyon, for many years. In June's high light she stood at the sinkWith a glass of wine,And listened for the bobolink,And crushed garlic in late sunshine.I watched her cooking, from my chair.She pressed her lipsTogether, reached for kitchenware,And tasted sauce from her fingertips."It's ready now. Come on," she said."You light the candle."We ate, and talked, and went to bed,And slept. It was a miracle.Summer KitchenDonald Hall

Nikki Giovanni was an American poet who lived from 1943-2024. She was one of the world’s best known African-American poets and was nominated for a Grammy for her poetry album entitled The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Giovanni was called the “poet of the Black revolution” due to her emphasis on social justice. She won many awards, was given the key to over two dozen cities and even had a bat species named after her. While much of her poetry addressed heavy issues, I really enjoy today’s more light-hearted poem. Rain has dropsSun has shineMoon has beamsThat make you mineRivers have banksSands for shoresHearts have heartbeatsThat make me yoursNeedles have eyesThough…