Mindful

Every day
~I see or hear
~~something
~~~that more or less

kills me
~with delight
~~that leaves me
~~~like a needle

in the haystack
~of light.
~~It is what I was born for--
~~~to look, to listen,

to lose myself
~inside this soft world--
~~to instruct myself
~~~over and over

in joy,
~and acclamation.
~~Nor am I talking
~~~about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
~the very extravagant--
~~but of the ordinary,
~~~the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
~Oh, good scholar,
~~I say to myself,
~~~how can you help

but grow wise
~with such teachings
~~as these---
~~~the untrimmable light

of the world,
~the ocean's shine,
~~the prayers that are made
~~~out of grass?

by Mary Oliver