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Mary Oliver Poem #5 "First Snow"

 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...
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Mary Oliver Poem #2: "Oxygen"

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Mary Oliver Poem #2: “Oxygen” September 30, 2023      Mary Oliver's poem, "Oxygen," invites readers to explore the profound interconnectedness between nature and human existence, highlighting the significance of the air we breathe. In just a few lines, Oliver manages to capture the essence of life, love, and our undeniable dependence on the natural world. It evoked a great sense of reflection in me, and for that, I appreciated how Mary Oliver was able to personify this invisible part of life.      The poem begins with a universal truth, "Everything needs it: bone, muscles, and even, while it calls the earth its home, the soul." In this opening line, Oliver emphasizes the universality of the need for oxygen. It's not just a biological necessity for our bodies but something that penetrates even the deepest recesses of our being, reaching the soul. By personifying oxygen as a "noisy machine," she introduces a sense of vitality and constant motion, mak...
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Mary Oliver Poem #4 "Praying"

 Mary Oliver Poem #4: “Praying”  Mary Oliver's poem "Praying" serves as a gentle guide to a more contemplative and grateful existence. Mary Oliver invites the reader, me in this case, to prayer. She explains what this can look like and debunks some myths surrounding prayer. She explains how prayer isn't confined to the grand or picturesque; it extends to the ordinary and overlooked elements of the world. The opening line, "It doesn't have to be the blue iris," immediately alleviates any pressure to seek out the traditionally beautiful or exceptional. Oliver encourages a shift in perspective, a willingness to recognize the divine in the everyday. Whether it's weeds in a vacant lot or a few small stones, the poet prompts me to pay attention to the often-dismissed details of my surroundings. The directive to "just pay attention" becomes a call to mindfulness, an invitation to be fully present in the moment. In doing so, I am prompted to engage...
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