#The Peace of Wild Things

[apoemaday]

The Peace of Wild Things

by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

[adventuresofalgy]

The weather birds had promised Algy a brief respite from the drenching Scotch mist, and he was gratified to discover that for once their forecast was correct, for the next morning was decidedly brighter, and although the rain – and no doubt the mist too – would surely return, it was pleasant to see the world again, and to be able to relax without having to shake the water off one's feathers every few seconds…

Flying back to the edge of the peat bog, Algy settled down on a convenient bank of heather, which bordered one of the many small pools to be found scattered across the treacherous marsh. Leaning back happily on the accommodating wee bushes, he pondered the mysteries of the wild west Highland weather, and thought how very much more agreeable it was not to be soaking wet… If only it could last!

But for now he was both dry and comfortable, and so – forgetting about his recent drenching and the dreariness of the short, dark days – Algy turned his thoughts instead to his human friends who were beset by quite different concerns and miseries. He knew that many were greatly worried about the human conduct of the world, and some were perhaps even falling victim to its excesses.

Reclining in the tranquillity of a wilderness where "the great heron feeds", Algy recalled a particularly apposite poem, and he very much hoped that those of his friends who were troubled or distressed would also be able to come into the peace of wild things and rest for a while…

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

[Algy is quoting the poem The Peace of Wild Things by the contemporary American writer Wendell Berry.]

[woundgallery]

[litandlifequotes]

I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

"The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry

[acti-veg]

[begottaum]

Potholes reserve, Bargo NSW spring 2025

[theheightofdishonor]

Noya's really good at hyping people up but I think he's especially good with his fellow second years because they have a stronger bond due to being in the same year and because he's arguably the best player of their batch, it means a lot more coming from him. And Noya has similar moments with Kinoshita and Tanaka too. I can't remember right now if him and Narita have a similar scene. He's just really reliable and cool.

[lilaccatholic]

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

(Read by the author here)

[forestfeeling]

“When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

- The Peace of Wild Things, Wendell Berry

[apatosaurus]

Hey, does anyone know where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water? Or where the great heron feeds?

It’s just that despair for the world is growing in me, and I wake at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be.

Wendell Berry said going there might help.

[airbrickwall]

[oflights]

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

[litandlifequotes]

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

"The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry

[poem-today]

A poem by Wendell Berry

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

[askatknits]

A Gathering of Poetry | July 2024

With all the chaos of the world right now, it feels like poetry is the only calm of my day. I have been circling back to familiar, comforting words from much loved poets. Today, I thought you might like the same comfort from familiar words so today I am sharing Wendell Berry’s The Peace of Wild Things. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in…

[theheightofdishonor]

not noya saying that with a totally deadpan face. he's so brutal