Nina Bacon's Blog

 Mary Oliver Poem #6: “Mindful” pg 173-174 Mary Oliver's poem "Mindful" is a celebration of the profound beauty found in the ordinary moments of life. With a keen sense of observation, Oliver invites readers to embrace the simple joys that surround us daily. The poem encourages a mindful engagement with the world, urging us to open our senses to the everyday wonders that often go unnoticed. Oliver reminds readers that something, within everyday, can be seen as remarkable. This reminds me of our class discussion last week about finding unusual beauty in nature. It might be something we pass often without thought, however, with a moment of mindfulness, we may see it from a different perspective. The opening lines, "Every day I see or I hear something that more or less kills me with delight," set the tone for a reflection on the transformative power of ordinary experiences. Oliver suggests that these moments of delight act as a catalyst, leaving her feeling like a ...

 Mary Oliver Poem #5: “First Snow” pg 371 Mary Oliver's "First Snow" speaks to me on a profoundly personal level, as if the poet is inviting me to join her in a contemplative journey through the magical landscape of the first snowfall. The poem opens with a sense of continuity, as the snow begins in the morning and persists throughout the day, its "white rhetoric everywhere" calling me back to fundamental questions about life's beauty and meaning. Mary Oliver’s use of language, describing the snow as having an "oracular fever," suggests a mysterious quality, as if the snow holds the answers to the questions it prompts. I find myself swept up in this peom, drawn into the dialogue between nature and reflection. The snow becomes not just a meteorological event but a medium for profound reflection, a silent communicator urging me to delve into the why, how, and whence of the beauty that surrounds us. As the snow continues its relentless descent, the im...

 Nature Journal #9: What Fall feels like to me Fall is my favorite season; not only is my birthday in the fall season, but I love the crisp air, the cozy clothing, and the colorful trees. While in St. Louis, I took myself on a nature walk to enjoy the foliage not present in Fort Worth. This walk proved to be a restorative experience; it was both extremely tranquil and connected me with the natural world. As the crisp autumn air met my exposed cheeks, I found comfort in the rhythmic crunch of fallen leaves beneath my every step. The vibrant shades of red, gold, and amber painted across the landscape invoked a sense of awe, capturing the essence of the season's transformative beauty. To me, fall does not feel like a death of life. But rather, I see the leaves shed from their trees as in preparation for the future. Moreover, I experience the colorful display as the leaves finale. They show off and display their beauty in the most profound was possible to capture the attention of the w...

 Nature Journal #8: Rainbows Rainbows have always had a comforting presence to me; even outside of their religious affiliation, rainbows are quite literally a bright spot on a rainy day. When I was little, I used to sit on the floor of my dining room where we had a crystal chandelier hanging. I'd try to catch the sun gleaming on the fixture in order to witness the rainbow spectrum reflected all across the room. On particularly sunny days or at certain times of year, I'd walk through our dining room and it would be polka-dotted in rainbows. I've always found it fascinating how light is refracted to create such a vision.  But more so than rainbows that appear through certain materials, rainbows that cover the sky after a rainstorm always impress me to a different level. I went home for a few days to St. Louis hoping I would get to see beautiful trees and crisp weather. While I did get some of that, I also experienced some rainy gloomy weather. But one afternoon, after it rain...