An ode to poet Diane Ackerman

Today, as I listened to Tara Brach speaking about Radical Compassion, I listened to her read a poem by Diane Ackerman, “School Prayer.” Here’s part of it:

In the name of daybreak/ and the eyelids of morning/ and the wayfaring moon/ and the night when it departs,

I swear I will not dishonor my soul with hatred,/ but offer myself humbly/ as a guardian of nature,/ as a healer of misery,/ as a messenger of wonder,/ as an architect of peace.

In the name of the sun and its mirrors/ To and the day that embraces it…

You can read the rest here. It’s from Diane Ackerman’s book, I Praise My Destroyer, which I plan to get my hands on as soon as possible.

My new poetry crush–Diane Ackerman

After listening to the poem and finding it online, I looked at Diane’s website. Not only does she write poetry about spiritual topics, but she also writes nonfiction, is a naturalist, and has written children’s poetry books about natural science. She writes a lot about human’s relationship to nature. One of Diane’s children’s books is called Animal Sense (and is illustrated by the wonderful Peter Sis!). I ordered the book, but here’s a bit that is shared on Amazon and in various book reviews:

A stapler with its tiny fangs
Cannot outwit orangutangs.
Rocks are very good at sitting,
but never walk or take up knitting.
Living things all feel and sense
their way through every happenstance. . . .

Have you ever found someone who does what you want to do? That’s what I found today. I feel inspired and also a little jealous–oh, well! It’s best to keep on writing.

I often write about nature (e.g. The geese have left the pond)–and often write whimsical poems, too (Which do you prefer–abundance or a bun dance?). I feel inspired to dig deeper and open myself wider after reading just a little bit of her work. And I definitely intend to read more.

So here is my ode to Diane (it’s an irregular ode–no particular format, just praise:

To live from the heart

True to your truest self

In tune with nature

And your own humanity–

This Diane Ackerman,

is what I see in you

And what you inspire me to become-

my truest self

that shines in the

open eyes

of the rising sun.

This week, Karen Edmisten hosts Poetry Friday. Check out her poem about Leap Day and see what other poets are up to–add your link if you have some poetry to share.

That’s it for today!

Thanks for stopping by. And keep shining!

xoxo