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eveshilton's review against another edition
3.0
“But I thought, of the wren’s singing, what could this be
if it isn’t a prayer?”
if it isn’t a prayer?”
futurama1979's review against another edition
4.0
I love poetry as much as the next guy, but rarely do I find a poem that immediately jumps into my 'favourite poems' basket. I did in this collection. No one can say Oliver isn't an incredible poet, and this collection shows off that skill really, really well. I haven't been able to stop thinking about "The first time Percy came back" since I read it. Literally amazing poem out of an amazing collection.
That being said, my only issue - and it's a me problem, not a her problem! - is that some of her poetry is a tiny bit too white lady buddhist for me to fully appreciate it. Again, no fault of hers, just that I'm not the exact target demographic for a few of these poems.
That being said, my only issue - and it's a me problem, not a her problem! - is that some of her poetry is a tiny bit too white lady buddhist for me to fully appreciate it. Again, no fault of hers, just that I'm not the exact target demographic for a few of these poems.
sydneyyylove's review
5.0
I love Mary Oliver and I admire how she can capture what it feels like to live in MA
achillesheeled's review
3.0
THE MOTH, THE MOUNTAINS, THE RIVERS
Who can guess the luna’s sadness who lives so briefly? Who can guess the impatience of stone longing to be ground down, to be part again of something livelier? Who can imagine in what heaviness the rivers remember their original clarity?
Strange questions, yet I have spent worthwhile time with them. And I suggest them to you also, that your spirit grow in curiosity, that your life be richer than it is, that you bow to the earth as you feel how it actually is, that we—so clever, and ambitious, and selfish, and unrestrained— are only one design of the moving, the vivacious many.
while i do think some of these poems can be slightly lackluster, overall this is a lovely little collection of imagery poems that reminded me of my own coastal massachusetts hometown. oliver has a very nice life philosophy that i think is worthwhile to emulate.
3.5/5
Who can guess the luna’s sadness who lives so briefly? Who can guess the impatience of stone longing to be ground down, to be part again of something livelier? Who can imagine in what heaviness the rivers remember their original clarity?
Strange questions, yet I have spent worthwhile time with them. And I suggest them to you also, that your spirit grow in curiosity, that your life be richer than it is, that you bow to the earth as you feel how it actually is, that we—so clever, and ambitious, and selfish, and unrestrained— are only one design of the moving, the vivacious many.
while i do think some of these poems can be slightly lackluster, overall this is a lovely little collection of imagery poems that reminded me of my own coastal massachusetts hometown. oliver has a very nice life philosophy that i think is worthwhile to emulate.
3.5/5