“You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”

— Mary Oliver

"Wild Geese"
Dream Work (1986)
Context: You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

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Mary Oliver 98

American writer 1935–2019

Mary Oliver (1935–2019) American writer

Dream Work (1986)
Source: "Wild Geese"

“If you want to feel the happiness of loving, forget about your soul.
The soul ruins love.
Only in God can the soul meet satisfaction.
Not in another soul.
Only in God — or out of the world.
Souls cannot communicate.
Let your body talk to another body.
Because bodies understand each other, but souls don’t.”

Manuel Bandeira (1886–1968) Brazilian writer

Se queres sentir a felicidade de amar, esquece a tua alma.
A alma é que estraga o amor.
Só em Deus ela pode encontrar satisfação.
Não noutra alma.
Só em Deus - ou fora do mundo.
As almas são incomunicáveis.
Deixa o teu corpo entender — se com outro corpo.
Porque os corpos se entendem, mas as almas não.
Arte de amar (The Art of Loving)

“The only way to have eternal love is to never let your heart forget what it’s like to live without it.”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Night Play

“Give me your body and let me love you like I do
Come a little closer and let me do those things to you
This feeling will last forever, baby, that's the truth
Let me be your man so I can love you”

Zayn Malik (1993) British singer

Let Me for his partner on young people not knowing what to come in the future if it is too faraway into the future
Song lyrics

“Turn soft and lovely anytime you have the chance.”

Jenny Holzer (1950) American conceptual artist

“You've got to have someone who loves your body. Who doesn't define you, but sees you. Who loves what he sees. Who you don't have to struggle to be good enough for.”

Deb Caletti (1963) American writer

Source: The Secret Life of Prince Charming

“But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.”

Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian poet and singer-songwriter

"Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" · Duet with Judy Collins on Soundstage (January 1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJImYNGqwk
Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967)
Context: I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
Yes many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.