“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
So asked Mary Oliver, one of the greatest and most prolific modern poets of the twenty-first century. Oliver passed away this past January. She was 83 and living in her Florida residence. The above quote comes from her poem entitled “The Summer Day.”
I was first introduced to Oliver’s work in a college English class. Yet, despite liking the snippet that I had to read for that class, that’s not where I really “met” her. I would say I became fully acquainted with Oliver when I was working at a library, and my former coworker Brian and I were discussing our favorite poems while we worked at the checkout desk. It was a slow winter night, and we had time to talk while waiting for patrons to check out books. Brian didn’t have to think twice about one of his favorite poets. Without hesitation, he hastened to print out one of Oliver’s poems on the work printer. It was “The Summer Day.” This was not one of the Oliver poems I had read in college; in my mind, this was solid gold. I kept the simple printout on plain white paper, and it has been stuck to my fridge ever since (7 years and counting).
What is it about Oliver’s poetry that resonates with me? I am still trying to understand exactly. Her words are simple and understated, and they match her topics: the natural world, daily life, the seasons. Her poems ask you to slow down, lower your heart rate, and look closely at things. They counter the fast pace of the world – without a lecture. They invite you on a walk in the woods, a daydream by a river, a cup of tea. Her poems invite you to just be.
But don’t let Oliver’s poems’ simplicity fool you; they are no less profound for their raw words or brevity. Take her poem “Don’t Worry”:
“Things take the time they take. Don’t worry.
How many roads did Saint Augustine follow
before he became Saint Augustine?”
Not only has Oliver’s poetry touched me and inspired me both as a poet and a person, but her work has connected me with others, too. I’ve swapped favorite titles and poems of hers with others and discussed them at length. I’ve even had a few friendships begin this way: “Oh, you like Mary Oliver, too?”
In case you haven’t read much of her work, let me leave you with a few recommendations. My favorite works of hers include the compilations “Felicity” and “Devotions” and her “A Poetry Handbook.” Standalone poems I can’t get enough of include “Wild Geese” and “The Summer Day.”
Through her poetry, Oliver’s “wild and precious” life lives on.
