Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

January 14, 2016 1 Comment

Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

As my alarmed sounded at 5:30am this morning, I drug myself out of bed to get the day started. I headed to the 6am class at my gym so that I can get back home before my daughter wakes. As I sit now and slowly begin to hear her stir, I couldn’t help but think of this Mary Oliver poem from a collection I’ve been reading. Sometimes getting up early is hard, but there is a definitely a beauty to the quiet and peacefulness that I don’t experience at any other point in my day.

Why I Wake Early
by Mary Oliver

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.






1 Response

Lin Carson
Lin Carson

March 29, 2026

I share your appreciation of this poem. It perfectly reflects why I love to rise early every day.

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