Mary Oliver

"The Messenger"

This is a very short poem. Nonetheless, it is a very important poem. In the first paragraph, Mary Oliver addresses her audience to what her work is. Her work is to love nature, flowers, birds, plant life, and the clam deep in the sand.

In paragraph two, she makes it clear about the kinds of things that people worry about the most. Is it that our clothes that we wear are more important than nature? Maybe my youthful looks are leaving me from day to day. The narrator is clearly stating, "let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work." And, what is her work? In life, our work is to love nature!

Again, relating to nature, she reminds us that plants stand still and be admired, animals in pastures rejoice at being supplied with all the food that they need.
Finally, as humans, "are we grateful to have a mind, soul, body, and to live forever?"

"Walking Home from Oake-Head"

The narrator walks home and observes the sky, which is full of snow clouds. It is late afternoon.

She is in no hurry to get home, because it is important to absorb the beauty of the scene in the sky. I believe that she sense the presense of of God, "somebody loves me there,"acknowledging the same peace as a pine tree .

She is careful to walk slowly in order to enjoy the unhurried wind. How is it, that the wind could be a gift?

The narrator now describes how the snow begins. The snow starts out casually. It is wonderful to visualize living in a mental and physical mind of white snow falling all around you. She accounts the snow as to be faithful. It does not appear to be a punishment to her to have red cheeks from the snow.

At last, she is at home. The narrator is full of joy from her walk home in the snow. She refers to the snow as stars!

"Six Recognitions of the Lord"

In this poem, the narrator attempts to teach the reader, how to recognize God through nature.

Nature through God is lying out in a grass field. Nature is looking up at the clouds, and imagining that the cloud look like a fish. I begin to fall in a peaceful state of mind, a blue jay cries , and I return to a natural state. Is it that I've been asleep?

She is returning home. Back to the real world in which we all live in. The narrator has successfully revealed that God is in the cloud. God is in the black oak. God is in the wings of birds. God is in the body of man and woman.

"It is mystery, It is love of God, and it is obedience."