Mary Oliver is one of the Greats of the modern day poets, she see's into the souls of things and then shares that seeing. Truly Wonderful.

RIP, Mary. We loved you. We love you still.

"... they leave me opened and empty and pleased to have no answers. is that the way you want it?" "absolutely." Wow. "... so many of us live most of our lives seeking the answerable, and somehow demeaning or bypassing those things that can't be answered; and therefore denuding one's life of the acceptance of mystery, and the pleasure of mystery, and the willingness to live with mystery.... Don't forget the mystery... Love the mystery... be glad of it... don't want answers all the time. " Wow.. Mary Oliver.

Rest in Peace Jan. 17, 2019

What wisdom stems from Colman Barks eventual question in this interview. A gem to be put safely in one of the pockets of our heart, the touch of which reminding us of what is important. Thank you Mary Oliver for your marvellous words throwing light on the mysteries over so many years. Thankfully they will live on and on and on........ With deep gratitude.

Long live Mary Oliver 🦋

Where are you, Mary? This morning I stood at the edge of the lake, now slushy with February's moody thaw. The wild geese were already there of course. And as I attempted to apply a zen lens to my life and seek to alter not people or circumstances but the way I see them and how I reply, it occurs to me that there are no answers. Not really. There is only the sitting still. The process..the journey and those concepts which I made complicated for so damn long. There is only one energy. One life. And as you queried; 'What do you plan to do with it?' Oh Mary. I have so many plans. And dreams, frustrated. And so often feel paralyzed and inept. What do you want..and what do you have? I envision you asking. I want what I already have. I have this life. This day. I have the smiles of my reedy toddler grandson. He is growing into all his curiosity and questions, too. And I have the juiciness of the gurgling newer boy; a little apple dumpling of a human. I have this cup of coffee, morning elixir clutched in my sleepy hand. I have the lyrical gift of Joni on constant rotation, providing a soundtrack for every feeling. I have two chubby gray cats, who provide soul-healing- who show me every day how to lazily lounge around in the sunny spots, and purr. I have books to read, and poems to write. And nature. Nature gives to us all, and asks no questions. I suspect that is why you revered it so. Mary, when you transitioned to the other side, it was if the cornucopia of your mind and heart fell off a ledge and spilled out. And I am like a hungry bird, digesting your every word. I have the twin gifts of inspiration and interest. May I share them as freely as you did, and still do. I have thankfulness to no longer seek the lying solace of drink. I have the gift of words, and the ability to finally clearly think. Where are you flying to today, Mary? Or, more likely, are you just meandering on the edge of a mossy marsh somewhere... scribbling in your worn, tiny notebook, penning paens to bullfrogs and that which leaps, crawls, and takes flight. Are you smiling your sly grin like you do ~ as the morning mist kisses you? I think you are. 2/8/19

Absolutely beautiful!

She makes me cry everytime

The interview of Coleman Barks is the best non-interview I ever heard....so funny so true - Mary Oliver is top in communicating ..all is said already

Brilliant 6 minutes. Favorite poems. 1 Ghosts. Epic. Starts with a question. Effective use of italicized text. 2 Clamming. "dawn-soaked shore" 3 Singapore. Love the last lines.

Thank you, this has been added to a playlist...

Love the delicious honesty and playfulness that dances between these 2!

Does anyone else think this amazing poet, Mary Oliver, resembles John Denver? Really. What a happy coincidence.

Rip mary

so good - both of them!

Love this!

"Don't forget the mystery. Love the mystery."

Beautiful reading.

I agree with you wholly. Well said.

Wonderful

So right!

Goodbye Mary Oliver... Rest in Peace.

@cyndish1 yeah, she kind of does! they could be siblings definitely. love her work and love, love, LOVE john denver.

RIP Mary Oliver!

Reading Mary Oliver : A Response I gaze upon the poet; her words - ponderless, profound; deep and dark and blue - and think, what such have I to offer from my humble beginnings or my sordid past to justify the title of poet? To answer the unanswerable? To defend my consumption of fish, of fowl, of air, of love? What gives me the right to birth words; to rape words; to bend words to my will, willy-nilly? And, why do you read them? Have I, simply by proclamation or circumstance, the inherent right to deface plume and parchment with philosophies pilfered from shadows or snatched from the sky? Might those pinched words have been travelling to another much more qualified than I? Much more deserving? Might they have been intended by fate for Mary Oliver? Is it possible that Mary might have just as wantonly purloined words from me? Might Mary be the impostor; the thief, and I, perchance, the poet, plucked bald of words meant for my pen? Am I Mary’s fish; Mary, my fish? Have we flailed and sucked and died “in the slow pouring off of rainbows” in one another’s pail? Have we consumed one another? Is now Mary in me? I in her? Are we the fish? Might have the fish been the real poet all along? Or has the fish simply died in vain in the pails of two poets never meant to meet? © 2017 The Poet Darkling

RIP Mary

duele más el mundo sin vos

The part about the left wondering stuff for sure I'm always going to be haunting earth for the rest of my life afterlife not cause i want to but for not receiving answers

"We" is often used to refer to humanity in general terms. Of course, there are exceptions to every generalization. If I had stated that I am an exception when it comes to how humans regard animals that would have sounded self-righteous. It doesn't change the fact that "we" can still be understood to mean humans in general, not specific individuals. And yes I get defensive when someone who I don't know says "don't group me with you." Sounds a tad bratty, no?

@nheskimo I say one sentence and you come up with that insight? Thats ignorance. Plus you said We which includes you meaning you are a part of that group?

@nheskimo Don't say We, don't put me in the same group as you.

@Preokthe5 - Excuse me, but what did you really intend with your little snide sentence? By "We" I'm talking of the majority of humanity who thinks nothing of causing other animals to suffer - I do not belong to that majority - sounds like you do, so yes, you're right you and I do not have that in common, for which I am grateful.

@nheskimo All that is needed from you is a little clarification, in plain, non-attacking language. You did, after all, say "We" & then say you do not belong to that majority. So Preokthe5 read your "we have narrow souls" literally & took care to say he or she was an exception to your statement that "we" have narrow souls. You do seem a smidge defensive.

Love you, Mary, but sorry you don't need to eat a fish to survive so..." pain and pain and more pain" in this case just doesn't hook me, pardon the pun. We do what we do to animals because our souls are very narrow when it comes to extending empathy to all who feel pain, sad as that is. And sadder still that you did not realize this as you watched the fish lying there in your bucket gasping and dying.