Lachlan’s Reviews > Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver > Status Update

‘White Pine’ (1994). “Yes! No!” Was my favourite. I am fascinated by Oliver’s spirituality but wonder if I could achieve her passion without faith. Anyway. Goodnight.

Wow. ‘West Wind’ (1997) made me put my book down and really sit with these poems. I was feeling down before I started this, but Mary Oliver just has such an appreciation for life and nature that my mindset completely changed and I was just in awe of the possibilities before me by the time I was finished.

There were only two poems in ‘The Leaf and the Cloud’ (2000) and I usually prefer the shorter, sweeter ones, but my favourite line was: “A lifetime isn’t long enough for the beautify of this world and the responsibilities of your life.” -from ‘Flare’.

‘Long Life’ (2004) - a nice short one to get me back into this :3

‘Why I Wake Early’ (2004) - really liked this section, favs were probably ‘daises’ and ‘goldenrod, late fall’. And also ‘snow geese’. And ‘mindful’. :)

‘Blue Iris’ (2004) - I wish this section was longer!!! Love love love love love

Really really enjoyed ‘New and Selected Poems: Volume Two’ (2005). Favourite was ‘Hum’.

Re-read ‘Red Bird’ (2008) and I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed it the second time around. I read every poem at least 2-3 times anyway so I’m probably actually on page 400 by now.

I loved ‘When I am among the trees’ but couldn’t really get behind the rest of ‘Thirst’ (2006). Mary Oliver explores religion and God in a really interesting way, but that’s just not for me!

Favourite from ‘Red Bird’ (2008) was ‘Mornings at Blackwater’ but I’m tired and want to read these ones again zzz