Another from Mary Oliver‘s “Blue Horses”. Today’s random selection, Watering the Stones at Page 41 …
WATERING THE STONES
Every summer I gather a few stones from
the beach and keep them in a glass bowl.
Now and again I cover them with water,
and they drink. There’s no question about
this; I put tinfoil over the bowl, tightly,
yet the water disappears. This doesn’t
mean we ever have a conversation, or that
they have the kind of feelings we do, yet
it might mean something. Whatever the
stones are, they don’t lie in the water
and do nothing.
Some of my friends refuse to believe it
happens, even though they’ve seen it. But
a few others — I’ve seen them walking down
the beach holding a few stones, and they
look at them rather more closely now.
Once in a while, I swear, I’ve even heard
one or two of them say “Hello.”
Which, I think, does no harm to any or
anything, does it?
Publisher: Penguin Press
ISBN: 978-1-59420-479-1
Cheryl Andrews 
8 comments
3 February 2017 at 12:28 pm
carin
Have only just found your poetry page. So lovely. I’m currently immersed in Mary Oliver. She’s a tonic, and a reminder. And, now, I see that she’s also a fellow stone waterer…
LikeLiked by 1 person
3 February 2017 at 2:19 pm
Cheryl
Love her work. Currently reading her Poetry Handbook, Carin.
LikeLike
13 July 2015 at 11:43 am
dacemara
The nature-faith of Latvians has it that stones carry their share of life-essence. So why shouldn’t the little ones drink, like the rest of us? You made my day with this sweet little reminder, Cheryl.
LikeLike
14 July 2015 at 3:38 pm
Cheryl
And it makes my day, Dace, that the reminder is sweet!
LikeLike
12 July 2015 at 5:34 pm
windurneckin
Only beginning all of this…but a nice and clever little read!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
14 July 2015 at 3:44 pm
Cheryl
I’m quickly building a bias for her poetry, Jenny. So glad she was part of the beginning!
LikeLike
12 July 2015 at 11:22 am
Allison Howard
What a lovely little story – I like the way Mary’s mind works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
12 July 2015 at 11:31 am
Cheryl
Me too, Allison. ‘Blue Horses’ is a spectacular collection and the cover art Turm der blauen Pferde by Franz Marc blows me away every time I take the book off the poetry shelf.
LikeLike