Reflection by Emily Lawton

I discovered the poetry of Mary Oliver through my Mom, who has been a long-time fan. She gifted me a collection of her work, ‘Devotions’ and I often read a poem or two before bed. It was very difficult to choose only one poem as there are so many treasures! Her writing is often about her deep love of the natural world and her ability to notice and wonder with acknowledgement and appreciation and true intention. I relate, very much, to her sincerity and astonishment of the natural world. I have always been the most content when outdoors, walking in the woods or taking a long run, cross country skiing in the quiet snowy woods and collecting sea glass along the Maine and Nova Scotia coastline. My most treasured, comforting and joyful childhood memories are from my grandparent’s cherry farm in Northern Michigan, which I reflect on often. Nature has always brought me peace and gratitude.

I find that Mary Oliver’s poetry inspires the ways I work to nurture my own children (‘sheer delight and gratitude’ as she writes) and with the families who I am privileged to spend time with, through my work. I am always hopeful that through safety and trust, there will be opportunity for wondering and observation of young infants with their families which will create shared moments of meaning making and appreciation and astonishment. Mary’s emphasis on reflection and wonder and awe, are fundamental to our work and to our ways of being with infants and their families. I am always on the look-out for ‘awe’ in my daily life. As Mary wrote, ‘Attention is the beginning of devotion.’

Invitation

By Mary Oliver

Oh do you have time to linger for just a little while out of your busy

and very important day for the goldfinches that have gathered in a field of thistles

for a musical battle, to see who can sing the highest note, or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth, or the most tender? Their strong, blunt beaks drink the air

as they strive melodiously not for your sake and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning but for sheer delight and gratitude— believe us, they say, it is a serious thing

just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world. I beg of you,

do not walk by without pausing to attend to this rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something. It could mean everything. It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote: You must change your life.

Emily Lawton, MSEd, IMH-E®, is the Assistant Director of Maternal Infant Relational Health for the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University. She spends much of her time leading an Early Relational Health pilot initiative called 'Enhancing Relationships in the First 1000 Days,' providing direct service support to infants and very young children and their families, in Passaic County, New Jersey. Previously, Emily worked for many years as the Developmental Specialist with the High-Risk Neonatal Follow-Up program at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is trained and certified in the NBO.