Why I Wake Early
by Mary Oliver
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–
best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.
I try so hard to enjoy every season, but man, it has been hard to enjoy this winter.
Polar vortexes. Ice. Snow. No handy – and much anticipated – February thaw.
Challenges with travel, driving, seeing my husband (one of the drawbacks to living 3 hours apart, separated primarily by rural roads…).
I am so glad… SO glad… that it is now spring.
I don’t care for daylight saving time – that’s not a popular opinion, I know, but when you are a super-early morning person, who sometimes in the summer is in bed while it’s still light out, having more light in the evening is pretty meh.
I prefer my light in the morning.
BUT this year? I will take it, thanks, and be happy.
I don’t have to put on a whole additional layer of clothing before leaving the apartment.
I hear birds singing every day.
I can see the stars again.
Appreciate every season for what it is? Absolutely.
Welcome spring, its warmth, its mud, its rains? Absolutely.
Turning my face to the sunshine, reveling in the (relative warmth), and anticipating what’s next.
Time to start growing again…