One Apple A Day #712 - an appointment
Mary Oliver was an American poet, a famous one. She won many awards including the Pulitzer Prize. But to be honest, I didn't know her or her work before a few days ago, when my dear Vanessa sent me the recording of one of her rare interviews.
The interview itself is a sort of a poem, filled with gems.
Like when she talks about her troubled family from which she tried to hide any time it was possible. Running away in the woods.
"I escaped it, and I found the entire world."
But the part that really struck a chord in me is one of the first things she shared in the interview. She's talking about discipline and the importance, in particular for young poets, to create a practice for their writing.
"Discipline is very important. We can't be creative all day long. We have to have an appointment to have that work out on the page. Because the creative part of us gets tired of waiting. Or it just gets tired. [...] to have that meeting with that part of oneself, because there are of course other parts of life."
To have an appointment with my creative self.
I'm in awe. It's such a powerful image. All of a sudden, discipline becomes something intimate. It's not about doing more or being more productive. No, it is all about taking care of my creative self.
Here you can listen to the interview. On this page, you can read more about Mary Oliver and her poetry.