In Memory of Mary Oliver

In Memory of Mary Oliver

Tessa Carman

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, ‘Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace, and, as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?’ Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, ‘If you will, you can become all flame.’

You do not have to be good,
only dog-tired from loving,
knees sore from praising, throat dry
from crying mercy, your eyes weak
from attending.
You must love the world, as it is.
You must love your body, or you will transgress
its holiness, given you at great cost.
You must give all that you possess.
Possess nothing. Give everything.
You do not have to be good,
only flame.

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Tessa Carman
Poet & Teacher

Photography by Margarita Kreshchuk