Mary Oliver was an American author of poetry and prose. Many of her poems deal with the interconnectivity of nature, largely inspired by her memories of rural Ohio. She won the National Book Award in 1992 and the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. She passed away in 2019 at the age of eighty-three.
In short, ‘Wild Geese’ is a poem, written by Mary Oliver, that expresses what one must do in order to lead a good life.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
‘Flare’ by Oliver encourages embracing the present and nature’s beauty, urging us to shed past burdens and find joy in life’s simple wonders.
It is not the sunrise,
which is a red rinse,
which is flaring all over the eastern sky;
‘Good-bye Fox’ by Mary Oliver is a thoughtful poem that explores the meaning of life. It includes a conversation between a fox and a human being.
Well, I've heard of your conversation about us. News
travels even among foxes, as you might know or not know.
Oliver’s ‘I Worried’ traverses the landscape of anxiety, illustrating the futility of overthinking through a journey from fear to liberation.
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
‘Morning Poem’ by Mary Oliver uses the dawn of a new day to speak of hope and new beginnings, offering an optimistic message.
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
‘Peonies’ by Mary Oliver uses imagery to depict peonies. She also explores the importance of relishing in humanity’s connection to the natural world.
This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers and they open —
‘Sleeping in the Forest’ by Mary Oliver depicts the speaker’s surreal experience amidst the tranquility of the natural world.
I thought the earth remembered me, she
took me back so tenderly, arranging
her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds. I slept
‘Song of Autumn’ personifies nature, evoking the serene transition from autumn to winter, celebrating life’s quiet moments.
Don’t you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of air
‘Song of the Builders’ by Mary Oliver is a lovely poem that uses nature as a metaphor. The poet compares human beings and the way we should treat our lives to the way a cricket works humbly.
On a summer morning
I sat down
on a hillside
to think about God –
‘The Summer Day’ by Mary Oliver is characteristic of much of her best writing. It focuses on nature and the purpose of life.
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
Amidst the swamp’s trials, bones knock for foothold, revealing resilience, transformation, and growth through struggle.
Here is the endless
wet thick
cosmos, the center
of everything—the nugget
‘Singapore’ by Mary Oliver is a highly relatable poem that speaks about life’s struggles and the beauty of mundane and graceful work. It is set in an airport bathroom in Singapore.
In Singapore, in the airport,
A darkness was ripped from my eyes.
In the women’s restroom, one compartment stood open.
A woman knelt there, washing something in the white bowl.
‘The Black Walnut Tree’ by Mary Oliver is a thoughtful poem about familial history. The poet depicts a discussion between herself and her mother.
My mother and I debate:
we could sell
the black walnut tree
to the lumberman,
‘The Journey’ captures the essence of self-discovery, portraying the brave trek from external noise to inner truth and peace.
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
‘The Son’ by Oliver reflects on childhood, gender expectations, and self-acceptance amidst unfulfilled parental hopes.
The son my father never had
lived with me
secretly;
before I sleep
FAQs about Mary OliverMary Oliver has been criticized by some for the simplicity of much of her verse. She did not use overly elaborate language, complex metaphors, or intentionally hard-to-understand syntax. Instead, she believed “Poetry, to be understood, must be clear.”
In Mary Oliver’s ‘Wild Geese,’ the geese symbolize community and caring. They also serve as a reminder for individuals to find their own way through life. One person’s path is not going to be right for everyone.
Some poets who are similar in style and subject matter to Mary Oliver include Wendell Berry, Alice Walker, Ross Gay, Joy Harjo, Robinson Jeffers, and Dorothy Parker.
Mary Oliver’s best poem is commonly considered to be ‘Wild Geese,’ a beautiful poem about the nature of life and happiness. Other well-loved poems include ‘The Summer Day,’ ‘The Journey,’ and ‘Flare.’
The poem, ‘The Summer Day,’ is about the meaning of life and the way that one approaches it. The poet contemplates God, mortality, and nature within the short lines of this piece as well.
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