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West Wind
West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems | Mary Oliver
14 posts | 7 read | 9 to read
The New York Times has called Mary Oliver's poems "thoroughly convincing - as genuine, moving, and implausible as the first caressing breeze of spring." In this stunning collection of forty poems - nineteen previously unpublished - she writes of nature and love, of the way they transform over time. And the way they remain constant. And what did you think love would be like? A summer day? The brambles in their places, and the long stretches of mud? Flowers in every field, in every garden, with their soft beaks and their pastel shoulders? On one street after another, the litter ticks in the gutter. In one room after another, the lovers meet, quarrel, sicken, break apart, cry out. One or two leap from windows. Most simply lean, exhausted, their thin arms on the sill. They have done all they could. The golden eagle, that lives not far from here, has perhaps a thousand tiny feathers flowing from the back of its head, each one shaped like an infinitely small but perfect spear.
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review
readordierachel
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Pickpick

"Language is, in other words, not necessary, but voluntary. If it were necessary, it would have stayed simple; it would not agitate our hearts with ever-present loveliness and ever-cresting ambiguity; it would not dream, on it's long white bones, of turning into song."

I felt bad about my lukewarm response to Felicity yesterday, so I decided to pull some of Oliver's older work off the shelf. ⬇️

readordierachel This book was my first introduction to her, in college many years ago, in a class on the literature of mindfulness. I remember being in awe of her. That hasn't changed. Revisiting this now was a wonderful experience. There is so much to savor about this collection. Pretty much perfect. 5y
batsy Beautiful pic and review 💙 Love this comment on language... 5y
Cathythoughts Beautiful..... ✨✨✨ 5y
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JSW I‘d love to read her but haven‘t known where to start. I‘m considering 5y
readordierachel @batsy Thanks ❤ It's from a larger piece, Three Songs, that has a lot of lovely things to say. 5y
readordierachel @JSW That looks like a good place to start! I've not read that one in particular, but it sounds like it will be a great overview of her work. I hope you enjoy 💕 5y
RohitSawant Lovely review! I haven't read her yet but hope to change that soon with this one! 5y
readordierachel @rohit-sawant Thanks, Rohit! I hope you love her! 5y
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readordierachel
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This is the Mary Oliver I love 💙

saresmoore Oof, I feel that in my bones. 5y
Suet624 Gorgeous. 5y
Cathythoughts ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
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Reggie So beautiful. 5y
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Naj

Today is a day like any other: twenty-four hours, a
little sunshine, a little rain.
Listen, says ambition, nervously shifting her weight from
one boot to another—why don't you get going?
For there I am, in the mossy shadows, under the trees.
And to tell the truth I don't want to let go of the wrists
of idleness, I don't want to sell my life for money,
I don't even want to come in out of the rain.

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suvata
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Pickpick

“There is life without love. It is not worth a bent penny, or a scuffed shoe.”

Cathythoughts ♥️stacked 5y
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suvata
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In memory of Mary Oliver, American poet, who passed away on January 17, 2019, at the age of 83, in Hobe Sound, Florida.

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WanderingBookaneer
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Pickpick

Mary all of her is my spirit poet. I see my thoughts and opinions about nature, love, and spirituality reflected in her poetry time and time again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

kspenmoll ❤💚 7y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Bibliogeekery 💓💓💓 7y
brennareadsbooks so beautiful 7y
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WanderingBookaneer
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WanderingBookaneer
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WanderingBookaneer
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readordierachel
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Bibliogeekery Mary Oliver 😍😍😍 7y
52 likes1 comment
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brennareadsbooks
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Pickpick

Not my favorite of her collection, but still stunning. #litsyAtoZ Letter W
Also #seasonalreadingchallenge 20.2, Read a book with a two word title in which both words begin with the same letter

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brennareadsbooks
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This is my favorite poem of this collection.

ValerieAndBooks Reading it is a good way to start off a new year! 7y
LyndseyReads Her words are the most beautiful words. 7y
51 likes3 comments
blurb
Lindy
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The photo album compiled by my sweetie to commemorate my 50th birthday is prefaced with a quote from one of my favourite poets, Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
#queerbooks #poetry

mauveandrosysky Awesome. 7y
Suzze That is so cool. Happy birthday! 7y
Lindy @Suzze Thanks. My 50th was a few years ago; I just pulled this album out because I knew there was poetry in it. ☺️ 7y
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CherylDeFranceschi Fabulous! 7y
reneelyons Beautiful!! 7y
ValerieAndBooks I love this poem and Mary Oliver. What a thoughtful gift! 7y
Lindy @ValerieAndBooks Thank you, and I agree. 😊 7y
52 likes1 stack add7 comments