One Thing Leads to Another

It was the second anniversary of my husband's passing a few days ago. I bought flowers, we lit candles, and honored his memory. Since he loved and wrote poetry,  here's a beautiful poem by Mary Oliver:

Mozart, for Example

All the quick notes
Mozart didn't have time to use
before he entered the cloud-boat

are falling now from the beaks
of the finches
that have gathered from the joyous summer

into the hard winter
and, like Mozart, they speak of nothing
but light and delight,

though it is true, the heavy blades of the world
are still pounding underneath
And this is what you can do too, maybe,

if you live simply and with a lyrical heart
in the cumbered neighborhoods or even,
as Mozart sometimes managed to, in a palace,

offering tune after tune after tune,
making some hard-hearted prince
prudent and kind, just by being happy.
from Thirst by Mary Oliver

illustration by Maira Kalman