Mary Oliver Notes and DB Post PDF

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A discussion board post over Mary Oliver's poetry....

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Mary Oliver Notes and DB Post attended both Ohio State University and Vassar College, but did not receive a degree from either institution. deeply influenced by Edna St. Vincent Millay and briefly lived in Millay’s home, helping Norma Millay organize her sister’s papers clear and poignant observations and evocative use of the natural world, Oliver’s poetry is firmly rooted in place and the Romantic nature tradition. main themes continue to be the intersection between the human and the natural world, as well as the limits of human consciousness and language in articulating such a meeting

“Beside the Waterfall” This poem by Mary Oliver is quite intriguing as it displays a very raw part of life. The first four stanzas depict a scene in which a “big dog” takes hold of a fawn that is “thankfully” deemed dead. Following this, the reader is welcomed into a new scene in which the dog “tackles” the fawn’s “flower-like” head. I read this poem a couple times, as I usually do, especially with shorter poems. Knowing that Oliver expresses much of nature and human consciousness throughout her poetry, I tried my best to decipher what deeper meaning this imagery could portray. The second to last stanza seemed to hold the answer. “and with kind eyes, he, too, if you're willing had a face like a flower;…” As if the savage nature of the dog was juxtaposed alongside the wonderment of nature itself, Oliver shifts the initial interpretation of the dog to better compare with the “flower-like” demeanor of the fawn he has just tackled. In ending the poem, Oliver writes, “which had been rising all the while anyway, broke clear of the trees and dropped its wild, clawed light over everything.” Within this last stanza, Oliver cleverly draws a comparison between that of the dog and the “clawed light” of the sun. I believe this poem demonstrates the reality of nature, and how, although it may seem but savage on the outside, it is just the natural and beautiful nature of our world.

“Breakage” As I read through “Breakage” by Mary Oliver, I discovered that I had read beginning to end maybe five times before I truly discovered the meaning. Mary Oliver is said to write poetry that is influenced by nature and human consciousness, and I believe that “Breakage” is a beautiful, articulate example of that intersection. As the poem begins, it is obvious to see the imagery of the sea tide. Oliver uses beautiful language to create this imagery and allow the reader to

actually visualize this image. At first, it seems that Oliver is simply referring to the beauty of the tide, but a couple lines specifically, is where I saw a shift in focus. “moisture gone. It’s like a schoolhouse of little words, thousands of little words.” Here, Oliver expresses a sense of fragmentation in thought, just as she had in the seashore in the beginning of the poem. Through this fragmentation, Oliver is able to express the continuous cycles in nature that rely on the breakdown and restoration of nature itself. I may be completely off track here, but I feel that by allowing the reader to visualize this cycle in nature, Oliver expresses ideas of revitalization and healing for the human self. The last line truly confirmed my perception of this poem, as it reads, “Then you begin, slowly, to read the whole story.” Just as nature undergoes these natural cycles, as do human beings. “Breakage” serves as a wonderful representation of human consciousness and nature. “The Mango” It seems obvious that “The Mango” by Mary Oliver is quite the invitation into the imagery and senses of a life of luxury. When I read this poem, I was reminded of the book and film of The Great Gatsby. If you are familiar with the film, you know that Gatsby lives a rather lustful and frivolous life in reaction to his love for Daisy Buchanan. Oliver writes, “When I began to eat/ things happened,” followed by accounts of language, death, men, voices, and song. As I read through this poem, I got a glimpse of history and a sense of a certain, more privileged lifestyle that I also encountered when reading and watching The Great Gatsby. I fell in love with this poem simply because it was not, in my opinion, comparable to any other of Oliver’s poems we read for this discussion. Aside from this, I felt a sense of guilt on behalf of the mango eater, as Oliver writes of famine and violence in relation to her enjoyment of the mango. “Hummingbirds” This poem is just beautiful in its entirety and truly possesses a soul of its own. Generally, I go towards the more analytical side of poetry and do my best to decipher the hidden meanings, but I am just in awe of this poem overall. It reminds me of childhood and adventure. I recently went to a “Wendy and Peter Pan” play and this poem really reminded me of the story line. It is almost dreamlike in a sense. “But I wasn’t in any hurry. … questions without answers before I climbed down.” I truly enjoyed this poem....