THE JOURNEY BY MARY OLIVER But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

One day you finally knew
the stars began to burn
what you had to do, and began,
through the sheets of clouds,
though the voices around you
and there was a new voice
kept shouting
which you slowly
their bad advice –
recognized as your own,
though the whole house
that kept you company
began to tremble
as you strode deeper and deeper
and you felt the old tug
into the world,
at your ankles.
determined to do
“Mend my life!”
the only thing you could do –
each voice cried.
determined to save
But you didn’t stop.
the only life you could save.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.