Invitation
Mary Oliver's "Invitation" beckons readers to pause and witness the enchanting spectacle of goldfinches engaged in a musical contest, weaving a narrative that emphasizes the profound significance of being alive in a world filled with both beauty and brokenness.
Invitation
Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy
and very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistles
for a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,
or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the air
as they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mine
and not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude –
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thing
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.
I beg of you,
do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.
It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.
— By Mary Oliver
Contemplation
Reflecting on Oliver's verses, ask yourself: How can you embrace the spirit of sheer delight and gratitude for the gift of being alive, especially in a world that may seem broken? And what transformations might occur if you, like the goldfinches, linger to witness and appreciate life's often-overlooked performances?
