Invitation, by Mary Oliver

I include a poem each month next to my calendar in my pocket notebook. I thought it would be fun to share each month's poem here! Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets; I have "it is a serious thing/just to be alive/on this fresh morning/in the broken world." on a sticker - there is a whole collection of Mary Oliver work on that site - and I wanted to have the whole poem this month. - Kate

Invitation
Mary Oliver

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.

This poem is from Red Bird by Mary Oliver, published by Beacon Press, 2009.