Trees

When I Am Among The Trees
A poem by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
Especially the willows and the honey locust,
Equally the beech, the Oakes, and the pines ,
They give off such hints of gladness .
I would almost say they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
In which I have goodness, and discernment ,
And never hurry through the works ,
But walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
And call out, “stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And the call again, “it’s simple,” they say.,
“And you too have come
Into the world to do this , to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”