Mary Oliver

I go down to the shore in the morning and depending on the hour the waves are rolling in or moving out, and I say, oh, I am miserable, what shall- what should I do? And the sea says in its lovely voice: Excuse me, I have work to do. Whether studying the leaves of a tree or mourning her treasured dog Percy, Mary Oliver is beautifully open to the teachings contained within the smallest of moments. In A Thousand Mornings she explores, with startling clarity, humour and kindness, the mysteries of our daily experience.

A Thousand Mornings

Presents a collection of poems that explore such themes as the wonder of nature, the power of attention, and the mysteries of the daily experience.

aywen

For often I see his shape in the clouds and this is a continual blessing.

And I am in that delicious and important place, roaring with laughter, full of earth-praise.

“The sea can do craziness, it can do smooth,

gifts or withhold all; it can rise, ebb, froth

like an incoming frenzy of fountains, or it can

Was feeling anxious so I reached for this, knowing I’ll find relief in her voice. She never takes anything for granted, the “resurrection of the morning”, “this and every crisping day” as “One of the doors/into the temple”. I needed this prayer to small things, and as Mary Oliver says 

“(and when have I ever been disappointed?)”

“For I will consider my dog Percy” made me tear up despite not yet knowing the love of a dog, as usual she finds the love in the everyday. 

Xiang

Oh Mary Oliver. 

Was feeling anxious so I reached for this, knowing I’ll find relief in her voice. She never takes anything for granted, the “resurrection of the morning”, “this and every crisping day” as “One of the doors/into the temple”. I needed this prayer to small things, and as Mary Oliver says 

“(and when have I ever been disappointed?)”

“For I will consider my dog Percy” made me tear up despite not yet knowing the love of a dog, as usual she finds the love in the everyday. 

 A Thousand Mornings 

full poem here, to not ruin the beauty:

All night my heart makes its way 

however it can over the rough ground

of uncertainties, but only until night

meets and then is overwhelmed by 

morning, the light deepening, the 

wind easing and just waiting, as I 

too wait (and when have I ever been 

disappointed?) for redbird to sing.

Megan Parrott

Not my favorite Mary Oliver collection, but still delightful!

armoni mayes

erika s

Katarina

I think being able to read Mary Oliver when you're young is a privilege. I found her work when I was 18, miserable and lost. I searched for words and people that could answer my question or at least ease my burden. Mary was there and after reading Wild Geese, I could not stop reading her other works. Something similar happened when I was reading A Thousand Mornings. I am twenty now and I realized she helped me to understand life. Her poems may be short, it may be simple. But I do admit sometimes even in her shortest poem, Mary is there as your beloved friend. Completely present. One thing I found amazing about her and in this specific work: the ability to see the world in a completely beautiful way and approach it softly.

kaitlan

Every day I’m still looking for God
and I’m still finding him everywhere

honey

Dave | Storyphoria

I quick read that will invite future visits. While I didn't connect with some of the pieces, only because I'm a complete novice to the world of poetry, there were many more that really spoke to my own instinct to find peace and meaning in nature. 

My favorites from the collection are "THE POET COMPARES HUMAN NATURE
TO THE OCEAN FROM WHICH WE CAME" and "ON TRAVELING TO BEAUTIFUL PLACES". A wonderful one-two punch that speaks so wonderfully about the human experience.

Paula Reed

"All night my heart makes its way however it can over the rough ground of uncertainties, but only until night meets and then is overwhelmed by morning, the light deepening, the wind easing and just waiting, as I too wait (and when have I ever been disappointed?) for redbird to sing."

There were some though provoking poems in this book. I feel like the best ones were ones that contemplated our human experience as it relates to the natural world. 

sophia n

bronte

You are going to grow up
and in order for that to happen
I am going to have to grow old
and then I will die, and the blame 
will be yours.

Melody Izard

Every Christmas season my book group has a poetry reading. So I, who am not a poetry reader by nature, scramble around to find that perfect, meaningful poem to read aloud. (I DO love to read aloud). Mary Oliver's new book, A Thousand Mornings reminds us to not let a regular old day pass you by without noticing and being grateful for the wonder and the splendor. Today I am grateful that at least once a year I am "pressured" to expand my reading to include poetry.

Jen Estrella

"and then into the sky of this
the one world
we all belong to

where everything 
sooner or later
is a part of everything else

which thought made me feel
for a little while
quite beautiful myself."

Devin Ware

Mary Oliver is one of those writers who has felt like an old friend to me from the moment I first opened one of her books. This collection of poems feels like a box of angels. It is rainwater seeping out from your cabinets, jungle trees growing out of abandoned skyscrapers. It's just so good. Please read.

Destinee

Brilliant display of honor for nature and life

Laurel Ann Smith

This is my first collection of poems that aren't for children. I hadn't been interested in mature poetry much, but was recently encouraged to try Mary Oliver. I really enjoyed her work. It was thought provoking and emotional at times, without being too heavy or incoherent. I will be reading more of her work.

Olivera Mitić

libby g

"who can guess the impatience of stone longing to be ground down, to be part again of something livelier?"

Pat G.

** spoiler alert **
           Mostly light overall, soft and flowing. Mostly not for me, but it provides some pleasant moments.

This, to me, is a collection of contemplations on how futile and insignificant life can be, “how small we are in the universe”. Punctured by a few observations of nature and other beings living care free while we as humans are tangled in our own seemingly important matters.

A Thousand Mornings

Reviews

Highlights