01:37

Poem: The Summer Day

by Tommy Carr

Rated
4.6
Type
talks
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
903

Reading of 'The Summer Day' by Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? ... Tell me, what is it you plan to do With your one wild and precious life?

PoetryNatureMindfulnessExistentialismGratitudeNature ConnectionMindful ObservationExistential Reflection

Transcript

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver Who made the world?

Who made the swan and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper,

I mean,

The one who has flung herself out of the grass,

The one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

Who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,

Who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention,

How to fall down into the grass,

How to kneel in the grass,

How to be idle and blessed,

How to stroll through the fields,

Which is what I've been doing all day.

Tell me,

What else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last and too soon?

Tell me,

What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Meet your Teacher

Tommy CarrCardiff, United Kingdom

4.6 (93)

Recent Reviews

Miranda

September 23, 2025

Very thought provoking 🦗

Nicola

May 6, 2024

I love this poem, a beautiful invitation to be blessed by your life

Zoe

October 6, 2022

Beautiful, lovely poem and thought provoking. Hope you are well Tommy? Thanks Zoe, SLT & fellow Mindful Teacher 😊

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© 2025 Tommy Carr. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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