Wild Geese Mary Oliver

765 Words4 Pages
“Wild Geese,” by Mary Oliver was published in 1986 and is the poet’s most anthologized poems. In the poem, Oliver explores the connection between the human mind, nature in general, and wild geese in particular. She mostly writes poetry about the natural world, and she often relates animals and varieties of plant life to the human condition. The theme of the poem is about accepting oneself for who they are and to live life to the fullest. There is also a religious aspect to the poem. Oliver conveys the poem, “Wild Geese,” with unforgettable tone, imagery, and metaphor. Throughout the poem, “Wild Geese,” Oliver uses a tone of encouragement. In the first stanza Oliver writes,, “You do not have to be good.” (Clugston, 2014). To me, that means…show more content…
She is referring to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert without food or water and being tempted by Satan. (Mathew 4:1 New International Version). “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.” (Clugston, 2014). The “sun” is a metaphor for when things are going fine and good while the “clear pebbles” are the situations of abundance, “the deep trees” are of poorness, “the mountains” are of moments of glory, and “the rivers” are of defeat. (Clugston, 2014). “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.” (Clugston, 2014). This passage is a metaphor for loneliness accompanies us all, but also comes couched between us “heading home again” and “your place in the family of things” and cries out like geese do, at the beginning and ending of a season of cold and darkness. It also is a reminder to enjoy life in the company of loved ones. Oliver’s usage of metaphors aided the poem in conveying its truest
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