Ever since we read Ocean Vuong’s astonishing poem Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong in the New Yorker, we’ve followed the 27-year-old poet by occasionally visiting his tumblr, Field Notes. We love clicking “random post‘ for surprises and mind-shifts we find helpful in navigating the world, work, love, being. Here’s a short collection of perfect pearls to take you through the week, each a tiny, potent meditation.

We draw great comfort in this:

oceanvuong.tumblr.com

…and fireflies:

 

…And find this to be an incredibly wise — and spacious —view of time:
oceanvuong.tumblr.com

…This is more nuanced and powerful than “glass half full/empty”, (and reminds us of all we have)
ocean vuong poverty vs wealth

 

…We need Ginsberg’s reminder of the necessary and essential risk of loving:
oceanvuong.tumblr.com

…and an enticing bathroom’s lesson in wallpaper, color and flowers;

ocean vuong bathtub with flowers 0

…We had not quite put our finger on what deep, dear friends really do:

oceanvuong.tumblr.com
oceanvuong.tumblr.com

…The path forward…Hmmm. Where do we want to go this week?

ocean vuong snowy road

 

Find Vuong’s Field Notes here. His first collection of poems is Night Sky with Exit Wounds.

top image: cestvibe, via unsatin

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3 replies on “Perfect Pearls via Ocean Vuong

  1. Nice…and just so you know, I often click on Surprise Me! for the very same reason.

  2. Hi Sally,
    Thank you for reminding us of the magic of fireflies. There are quite a few on the farm. I may be wrong, but it seems to me their light is brighter this year.
    A quote for the day:
    Men and boughs break,
    Praise life while you walk and wake,
    It is only lent.
    David Campbell

  3. So nice to know you are there on your beautiful farm reading Improvised Life, Keith. Thank you for the perfect quote.

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