The Peace of Wild Things

Poem

Jul 1

by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Berry, Wendell. “The Peace of Wild Things.” 2012. Scottish Poetry Library, https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/peace-wild-things-0/ Accessed August 14, 2026.

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perspectivecouragegrowthgriefnatureresiliencerestmindfulnesssimplicity

Leanna Immel

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

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The content on this website is for educational purposes only, and is also not meant to offer professional or therapeutic advice. If you want to know more about my work as therapist, visit my website here.

All of the content featured through this site is owned by each writer, artist or creator. Images are sourced from Unsplash.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Connection

BE IN TOUCH

Have a suggestion to add? I’d love to hear from you and continue to grow this online collection.

Shelves ‍Library ‍About ‍Contact

The content on this website is for educational purposes only, and is also not meant to offer professional or therapeutic advice. If you want to know more about my work as therapist, visit my website here.

All of the content featured through this site is owned by each writer, artist or creator. Images are sourced from Unsplash.

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.