Cherishing Life: Poems that Celebrate the Beauty of Existence

Life, with all its ups and downs, is a precious gift that should be treasured and celebrated. In the realm of poetry, numerous talented wordsmiths have attempted to capture the essence of cherishing life through their verses. These poems serve as a reminder to appreciate the beauty, joy, and moments of introspection that life has to offer. Let us explore a few remarkable examples of such poetry.

1. "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver is a powerful poem that urges readers to cherish life's fleeting moments and embrace the wonders of the natural world. Oliver's reflective style and deep sense of appreciation shine through in this piece:

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 down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have 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?

Oliver's final question serves as a poignant reminder to cherish the uniqueness and brevity of our lives, encouraging us to seize every opportunity for growth and appreciation.

2. "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's Still I Rise is a powerful and empowering poem that celebrates resilience in the face of adversity. While not explicitly focused on cherishing life, it carries an underlying theme of valuing oneself and embracing the strength within. This poem's final stanzas exemplify Angelou's profound message:

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
...
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Angelou's powerful words remind us that no matter the challenges we face, we can rise above them, embracing life's journey with strength and determination.

3. "The Journey" by Mary Oliver

Another beautiful poem by Mary Oliver, The Journey, explores the transformative power of self-discovery and the courage to follow one's dreams. Oliver's evocative language imparts a sense of urgency to cherish the present moment:

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
...
Mend my life!
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Oliver's poem serves as a reminder to cherish life by following our own unique paths, despite the doubts and obstacles that may arise.

These three poems beautifully exemplify the importance of cherishing life, whether it be through appreciating nature, embracing resilience, or embarking on a personal journey of self-discovery. Poetry, with its ability to evoke emotions and provoke introspection, provides a unique lens through which we can explore and celebrate the beauty and significance of existence. So, let us remember to cherish each moment, to find solace in the written word, and to embrace the wonder of life itself.