It’s Poetry Friday, and today I’m honoring Wendell Berry who passed away this week. One of his most celebrated poems is “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 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.
There is much to love in this poem, my favorite line being “And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.” I wrote alongside Wendell Berry this week, and while I didn’t use his line in my poem, I was inspired to contemplate the lessons we can learn from nature.
Beginning
by Rose Cappelli
When questions ping-pong my brain –
what’s next?
how much?
why?
I consider the diligence of the bees,
the brilliance of the maples,
the courage of the monarchs
(who journey beyond
what should be possible).
In a world of changing circumstance
they know what to do.
I breathe deeply
and begin.
Draft, RoseCappelli2026
Photo taken at Longwood Gardens.
Patricia has the roundup today at Reverie where she writes alongside Emily Dickinson, Be sure to stop by for lots more poetry goodness.
The diligence of bees! Wendell Berry gave us so much. Thanks, Rose. xo
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Blogger doesn’t seem to want to post my comments today, but I wanted you to know that I love the new cover and how wonderful that you got to experience the jubilee.
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Yes, the bees know what to do. I watched the Mary Oliver documentary which I highly recommend. I feel that we are compelled by nature to keep Mary alive by writing. Wendell Berry, too. We are losing so many giants.
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The Mary Oliver documentary was wonderful!
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The diligence of bees is such a lovely role model to follow…and, may I too have courage of a monarch. What a beautiful draft.
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What a gift Berry has left us — to be in conversation with the world in which we lay — drake and bee and pine, to find peace. Thank you, Rose!
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Rose, your poem is so inspiring!!! I especially love the cadence and imagery of these beautiful lines: “I consider the diligence of the bees,/the brilliance of the maples/,the courage of the monarchs“….Swooning! Thank you for sharing, Rose! (“The Peace of Wild Things” is one of my favorite poems, too!)
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Yes, what is there to do but begin? Thanks for this tribute to Wendell Berry. That’s a beautiful shot from Longwood Gardens.
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We have blessings surrounding us, and you’ve shown us the path, Rose, to “consider the diligence of the bees” among other nature’s gifts. It’s lovely, wishing all could take the time! Thank you!
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Thank you for a dose of Wendell Berry and your writing from alongside his.
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Rose, beautiful! Thank you for sharing Wendell Berry’s beautiful poem. I do love that same line you mention. The stars out there even now waiting throughout the day. I love that. And his last line, course, is such a great one. One of my favorites. Your last lines, remind me of a similar depth of character and hope as Berry’s last line: “I breathe deeply / and begin.”
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Thank you, Denise.
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Well, I’ve been away from the headlines, I guess–first Dolly Parton, next Tim Curry, and now Wendell! Thanks for your tribute both to him (that beautiful poem has often been sung in my congregation ) and to the diligence of the bees, etc. May we know what to do and also do it!
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Yes, that’s one of my favorites of Berry’s poems.
I love the way it inspired you, and love “the diligence of the bees.” ❤️
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This is another of my favorite poems by Berry. Thank your for remembering him today.
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Rose, your poem is so lovely, with the diligence of bees and how do the monarchs migrate all that way! Nature does help us as we “ping-pong” along:)
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