I had a poem all picked out to share for this first Gathering of Poetry in 2026 . . . something I’d been saving for a while. For January. But when I read it again earlier this week, it just . . . didn’t feel right, y’know? It wasn’t all rainbows-and-unicorns or anything, but it was a bit . . . maybe too outwardly hopeful. And it just didn’t feel like something I wanted to share. At least not today.

So. Back to the drawing board!

I turned to Thirst, a lovely collection of poems by Mary Oliver. This particular volume of poetry came together as MO was grieving the death of her long-time partner, Molly Malone Cook, in 2005. I often re-read this collection when I’m feeling lost and untethered. Like now.

Here’s a poem that hit just right for me this week. I hope it will for you, too.

Mozart, for Example
Mary Oliver

All the quick notes
Mozart didn’t have time to use
before he entered the cloud-boat

are falling now from the beaks
of the finches
that have gathered from the joyous summer

into the hard winter
and, like Mozart, they speak of nothing
but light and delight,

though it is true, the heavy blades of the world
are still pounding underneath.
And this is what you can do too, maybe,

if you live simply and with a lyrical heart
in the cumbered neighborhoods or even,
as Mozart sometimes managed to, in a palace,

offering tune after tune after tune,
making some hard-hearted prince
prudent and kind, just by being happy.

Keep breathing, my friends. And maybe . . . listen to some Mozart today. Even though the heavy blades of the world pound underneath, try to live simply and with a lyrical heart. (Like Mozart. And the finches.)

This poem is included in Mary Oliver’s 2006 poetry collection, Thirst, published by Beacon Press.

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And you can find A Gathering of Poetry every month . . . on the third Thursday.
Share some.
Read some.
Gather up some poetry!

(Bonny hosts a special link-up for A Gathering of Poetry. Be sure to check it out!)