Mary Oliver Monday - Mysteries, Yes

MYSTERIES, YES
by Mary Oliver from Evidence (Beacon Press)

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
  to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
  mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
  in allegiance with gravity
    while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
  never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
  scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
  who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
  "Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
  and bow their heads.


Yesterday when I confessed my recent addiction to the British show, Midsomer Murders, I neglected to mention that Chief Inspector Barnaby is just one in a long series of British detectives, on the television and in print, with whom I'm enthralled.  Miss Marple, Thomas Lynley, Sebastian St. Cyr, Simon Serailler, Brother Cadfael, Duncan Kinkaid and Gemma James, Jimmy Perez. . . I could go on but I won't. 

The point is, I love a good mystery.  I love learning about the characters (AKA suspects) and what makes them tick.  I love unraveling the back stories and following the threads of intrigue and motive.  I love trying to get one step ahead of the detective, even if my reasoning is based on intuition and conjecture rather than facts and evidence.  The only thing I don't love is when I know the answer early on in the story. Nothing ruins a good mystery like an easy answer. 

And that goes for life as well as fiction. 

Look for something today that causes you to laugh or bow your head in astonishment.