Poetry Chaikhana

If you like inspirational and/or mystical poetry, you will like Poetry Chaikhana (http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/). The site master is a poet, who also lives in my hometown of Bellingham, Washington. He chooses a beautiful poem each day, and always includes his own reflections on that piece. I am blessed to receive this in my inbox everyday. You, too, can subscribe by going to the website. It is free, but donations are helpful.

Today webmaster Ivan displayed a poem by Mary Oliver--"Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches?" It is beautiful and addresses one taking the risk to be vulnerable or "to die". Here is a short excerpt:

Well, there is time left --
fields everywhere invite you into them.

And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away
from wherever you are, to look for your soul?

Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!

To put one's foot into the door of the grass, which is
the mystery, which is death as well as life, and
not be afraid!

To set one's foot in the door of death, and be overcome
with amazement!

from West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems, by Mary Oliver