Mary Oliver New and Selected Poems: A Celebration of Nature and Life

Mary Oliver is renowned for her profound connection to the natural world and her ability to capture the beauty and wonder of existence in her poetry. In her collection of new and selected poems, readers are treated to a selection of her finest works that span her illustrious career. From her early poems filled with imagery of the New England landscape to her more recent explorations of grief and survival, Mary Oliver's poetry continues to resonate with readers across the world.

A Life in Poetry

Mary Oliver was born in Ohio in 1935 and spent much of her childhood exploring the woods and fields near her home. This love of nature never left her and would go on to inform much of her poetry. She published her first collection of poems, "No Voyage and Other Poems," in 1963 and went on to publish numerous collections over the next five decades. In 1984, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her collection "American Primitive," solidifying her place as one of America's most beloved poets.

The Themes of Mary Oliver's Poetry

One of the recurring themes in Mary Oliver's poetry is the idea of "Wilderness" and the importance of preserving nature in its untamed state. She often writes about the interconnectedness of all living things and the ways in which nature can provide solace and guidance in times of hardship. Her poems celebrate the small moments of beauty that can be found in everyday life, urging readers to slow down and appreciate the world around them.

Another prevalent theme in Mary Oliver's work is "Mortality" and the passage of time. She grapples with the concept of death and impermanence, yet finds comfort in the cyclical nature of life and the idea of rebirth. Her poems on these subjects are both poignant and life-affirming, reminding readers of the preciousness of each moment.

Selected Poems

"The Summer Day"

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

"Wild Geese"

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.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver's new and selected poems offer readers a glimpse into the depth and beauty of her work. Through her keen observations of the natural world and her reflections on life and death, she invites us to see the world in a new light. Her poetry is a testament to the power of language to evoke emotion and provoke thought, and it continues to inspire readers to this day. Mary Oliver's legacy as one of the greatest poets of our time is secure, and her words will continue to resonate with generations to come.