Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
My friend Greg said, "... it ain't over until it's over." Always supporting, ever encouraging, he recently told me to read Mary Oliver's Wild Geese. I wish you could see the beautifully written review of my book that Greg wrote for The Journal of Educational Alternatives out of Lock Haven University. I received copies yesterday. The best gift a gal could wish for on V-Day.
Greg writes:
How racism is embedded within us poses interesting questions for this reviewer/psychologist. How is it that I can know racism is wrong, yet continue to experience its effect deep within myself? Why can't I confront myself and remove these biases? Haven't I had sufficient counsel with myself to confront this issue and to resolve my conflicts with other identities? [bold mine]
And,
Jacobson's book is counsel to us to have the courage to confront our misconception of ourselves. The trick of thinking we're free of prejudice is the source of our shame when we trip on our subconscious bias and racist assumptions. Using a variety of psychological methods for introspection, Jacobson draws a roadmap for self-discovery.
Update:
On a completely different note: This site just in from a friend. I know that some of you will find this as helpful for preparedness as I did!
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