Do you like nature poetry? I sure do. I even dabble in writing it on occasion, but haven’t for a while. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite nature writers and I recently discovered she has released a new book of her lyrical nature poems. As with many of her previous poetry collections, themes in Blue Horses include mindfulness, exploration, humor, and the wise pace of appreciating the everyday as it pertains to nature’s elements and critters, especially birds.
Here’s a sample from Blue Horses, a short poem simply titled "Owl Poem":
One has to say this for the rounds of life
that keep coming and going; it has worked so far.
The rabbit, after all, has never asked if the grass
wanted to live.
Any more than the owl consults with the rabbit.
Acceptance of the world requires
that I bow even to you,
Master of the night.
Mary Oliver is often regarded as one of the great poets of our age. I’m inclined to agree. Personally, I find her writing as rewarding and inspirational as works by Burroughs, Emerson, and Thoreau. When walking the prairie or along the creek corridor pondering what I might choose to write, I often find myself trying to channel Mary Oliver’s style in how I take in the wilderness and world around me. Whether you're new to Mary Oliver or a longtime fan, I'm sure you'll enjoy her latest work!