William
Now there’s William. He comes
Pecking like a bird, at my
Heart. His eyebrows are like the
Feathers of a wren. His ears are
Little seashells.
I would keep him always in my
Mind’s eye…
Whatever he does, he’ll want
The world to do it in. Maybe,
Who knows, he’ll want this very
Room which, only for convenience,
I realize, I’ve been
Calling mine.
I feel myself begin to wilt, like
An old flower, weak in the stem.
But he is irresistible! Whatever
He wants of mine-my room,
My ideas, my glass of milk, my
Socks and shirts, my place in
Line, my portion, my world – he
May have it.*
Mary Oliver
*The URL of the poem is to the page of a woman who also reads Mary Oliver. I included the link for the thoughts this poem inspired in her.
