I finished Mary Oliver’s “New and Selected Poems, Volume One” today. I found it at Half-Priced Books a couple of weeks ago, and finally got around to reading it. I have not read Oliver beyond her two big hits: “The Summer Day,” and “Wild Geese.” And to be honest I found many of the poems in the book to be more interesting, which of course means nothing other than my differing tastes. Among the poems I liked, and would recommend, are: (no specific order) Entering the Kingdom, Farm Country, Acid, and Lilies. Oliver has a strong sense of rural natures as a source of meaning and metaphor. She talks a lot about the importance being aware in, and of, the world. Overall a pleasant and easy to access poet.
(July 2, 2024)
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