I know this poem, and I particularly like this line. It's one of the great realizations we can have in this life:
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
I guess it's a warning against too much introspection - that it ultimately serves no useful purpose, so we need to look at the bigger picture and get on with things
Yes, I can see that, Nancy. That is in there also. Let's hope that we can lift each other high enough above our burdens so that we can see and embrace the miracles that are all around us.
I have many MO books and collections. This is one of my favorites (and why not?). Those first lines have comforted me and shirred me up SO many times. And yes, there is always that place where somebody loves me. Perfection.
"Dream Work" is one of the most wondrous poetry books in history and contains multiple masterpieces in its deceptively slim dimensions, including "Wild Geese."
Though I’ve known this poem for years, seeing it again still calls to my depths, raising tears mingled with laughter at the many years I spent trying to be good and grovelling in deserts. Thanks for the reminder 💜
Yesterday, I was pondering life in a befuddled way that this poem by Mary Oliver seems to have made clearer for me. It is not just about us. Humans do accomplish things and that’s sometimes amazing — and sometimes tragic. But other life forms have different meanings and accomplishments. The geese migrate in a blue sky and this is quite important too. We must be aware of this otherness, always.
I learned about Mary Oliver when Poetic Outlaws shared another poem of hers a few months ago. Since then I bought Dream Work and when I saw this poem today, it was familiar! One of my favorites in the book! Thank you so much.
I know and have interviewed a local poet who learned from Mary Oliver. She couldn’t say enough good things about Mary. That’s reflected in Mary’s poetry.
Wow, thank you for posting this for the people in the world who are constantly, non-stop watched, judged, scrutinized and shamed for how they live their lives, including how they parent, even if it is the only way they know how because they have never done it before and because they’re doing the best they can and have tried so many things, yet still fail sometimes because they are flawed human beings just like Oliver was… just like everyone is… which is, I think, you’re point in posting it… that none of us have it all together and no one is in a position to shame or judge anyone else with messages of how shameful they have been without first turning the lens inward, without first putting the spotlight on themselves. Not even you. Right? Am I gleaning the right message here? Or was there a different point you were trying to make? Well, either way, thank you for reminding me with this poem of Oliver’s that I have loved for so long that I don’t have to be good and walk on my knees for a hundred miles or five+ long years in the desert or in these spaces we all dwell in our phones, apps, media accounts… that my life is my life and is not here for anyone to judge, either blatantly or subtly… nor here for anyone to somehow send corrective messages to unless they are my parent and I am their child still under their responsibility… then by all valid and right means, please do attempt to correct patterns or destructive behaviors you see me heading towards. Very effective post… especially how you used a child clutching a book as your image… as if to say this is the for the children… the victims of their shameful parenting. Wonderful, Erik. You’ve done it yet again. Best account on Substack… such a light for us all on the dark paths we’re all on. I think I will go read this to my son now. Or better yet, I’ll send it to him in a text. I have an inkling you suspect he needs to see this more than I needed to see it.
no matter how many times i read this poem, it pierces right through my body armor and settles deep and true inside of me.
i love every word of oliver's but these i love best:
"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."
🎯🎯
I know this poem, and I particularly like this line. It's one of the great realizations we can have in this life:
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
I guess it's a warning against too much introspection - that it ultimately serves no useful purpose, so we need to look at the bigger picture and get on with things
I also view that important line about empathy and love with friends: lifting the burden of despair off of one another
Yes, I can see that, Nancy. That is in there also. Let's hope that we can lift each other high enough above our burdens so that we can see and embrace the miracles that are all around us.
Absolutely!
This makes me cry for this strange, bewildering, brutal and achingly beautiful world.
Yes, this world and how you say it. And how her words stir
As close to a bible that I can ever read from. Amen 🙏
I have many MO books and collections. This is one of my favorites (and why not?). Those first lines have comforted me and shirred me up SO many times. And yes, there is always that place where somebody loves me. Perfection.
"Dream Work" is one of the most wondrous poetry books in history and contains multiple masterpieces in its deceptively slim dimensions, including "Wild Geese."
Though I’ve known this poem for years, seeing it again still calls to my depths, raising tears mingled with laughter at the many years I spent trying to be good and grovelling in deserts. Thanks for the reminder 💜
Yesterday, I was pondering life in a befuddled way that this poem by Mary Oliver seems to have made clearer for me. It is not just about us. Humans do accomplish things and that’s sometimes amazing — and sometimes tragic. But other life forms have different meanings and accomplishments. The geese migrate in a blue sky and this is quite important too. We must be aware of this otherness, always.
Exactly, looking at the whole Earth, humans are just a small part of all the life that has a right to be here.
Thank you Erin! We are just a part of an intricate web of life.
I learned about Mary Oliver when Poetic Outlaws shared another poem of hers a few months ago. Since then I bought Dream Work and when I saw this poem today, it was familiar! One of my favorites in the book! Thank you so much.
The joyful shock of something new and unexpectedly affirming in my life. Thank you poet, and thank you curator.
I needed to read this today. Probably several times.
Such a masterpiece.
I know and have interviewed a local poet who learned from Mary Oliver. She couldn’t say enough good things about Mary. That’s reflected in Mary’s poetry.
wow! simply - wow, did i need this! 🙏❤️😊
Thus poem makes me cry every single time. God.
Wow, thank you for posting this for the people in the world who are constantly, non-stop watched, judged, scrutinized and shamed for how they live their lives, including how they parent, even if it is the only way they know how because they have never done it before and because they’re doing the best they can and have tried so many things, yet still fail sometimes because they are flawed human beings just like Oliver was… just like everyone is… which is, I think, you’re point in posting it… that none of us have it all together and no one is in a position to shame or judge anyone else with messages of how shameful they have been without first turning the lens inward, without first putting the spotlight on themselves. Not even you. Right? Am I gleaning the right message here? Or was there a different point you were trying to make? Well, either way, thank you for reminding me with this poem of Oliver’s that I have loved for so long that I don’t have to be good and walk on my knees for a hundred miles or five+ long years in the desert or in these spaces we all dwell in our phones, apps, media accounts… that my life is my life and is not here for anyone to judge, either blatantly or subtly… nor here for anyone to somehow send corrective messages to unless they are my parent and I am their child still under their responsibility… then by all valid and right means, please do attempt to correct patterns or destructive behaviors you see me heading towards. Very effective post… especially how you used a child clutching a book as your image… as if to say this is the for the children… the victims of their shameful parenting. Wonderful, Erik. You’ve done it yet again. Best account on Substack… such a light for us all on the dark paths we’re all on. I think I will go read this to my son now. Or better yet, I’ll send it to him in a text. I have an inkling you suspect he needs to see this more than I needed to see it.
🙏🏻🙏🏻