Wild Geese - A poem by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver - Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes, 
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, 
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -- 
over and over announcing your place 
in the family of things.

Added: on April 17th, 2007 at 12:01 AM | Viewed: 10862 times | Comments (3)

Wild Geese - Comments and Information
Poet: Mary Oliver Poem: Wild Geese Volume: Dream Work Year: Published/Written in 1986 Comment 3 of 3, added on June 7th, 2009 at 2:28 PM. This is my first peek at a poem by Mary Oliver , I found it emotionally sweeping , so natural, rationally simplistic and I was captured by the muscle of the words...Thank you it is beautiful. Gary Morneau Gary Morneau from Canada Comment 2 of 3, added on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 PM. The simplicity but powerfulness of this poem is awesome. Mary reminds us that while we are so occupied with worries etc., we fail to see the beauty around us and the blessings given to us. She reminds us to be present to the Present Moment - otherwise we will miss out on the best of life. Julia P. McLoughlin from United Kingdom Comment 1 of 3, added on April 17th, 2007 at 12:01 AM. I've loved Mary's poems for at least 25 years, and this one is a favorite. Her words sweep through my heart every time I read them... and I thank her dearly for that gift. Joyce Bonner from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Wild Geese, has received 3 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Mary Oliver with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Wild Geese Volume: Dream Work Year: Published/Written in 1986 Last read: 2009-11-22 10:32:05 Viewed 10862 times. Added on April 17th, 2007 at 12:01 AM.

Oliver Info
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