Darkness Opening into Morning

One of my wife’s Christmas presents was a beautiful collection of Mary Oliver’s poetry.  I have been reading it at night and a poem from a few nights ago has really stayed with me.  It is a very simple poem of only 9 lines entitled I Wake Close to Morning...

Why do people keep asking to see
God's identity papers
when the darkness opening into morning
is more than enough?
Certainly any god might turn away in disgust.
Think of Sheba approaching
the kingdom of Solomon.
Do you think she had to ask,
"Is this the place?"

The third and fourth lines especially...when the darkness opening into morning // is more than enough?

When I went out yesterday morning, I was thinking of these lines and the sunrise moments did not disappoint.  The clouds at the eastern horizon looked to be like a brush had taken them and pulled them wider across the canvas of the sky much like I have seen a painter soften a hard line of paint into that which is diffuse and soft.  I know the science behind such a sunrise (high atmosphere winds, etc) but it still felt like the canvas of the great artist at work.

But that wasn’t the only moment from the morning.  Scout and I were heading to the car when I noticed an interesting contrast.  The daylight hadn’t grown bright enough to shut off the artificial light and it was shining the same color as the illuminated clouds behind.

As I took in this moment, I was thinking about how we do create beautiful and amazing things as human beings but no matter what we do, they pale in comparison to the works of creation around us.  I experience that with photography over and over.  I can be standing before some majestic sight and even as I photograph the moment in a variety of ways, there is no way I can fully reflect the fullness, the depth, and the experience of that moment.

So today, I am grateful for Amy’s gift of this wonderful book, the creativity, depth, and wisdom of Mary Oliver, and of course for the artist of creation whose handiwork does not lead me to have to ask, “Is this the place?”