Poems Inspired by Mary Oliver
#MaryOliver
Poems inspired by the American poet Mary Jane Oliver. Here you'll find poetry using the style, themes or characters found in poems by Mary Oliver. Along with poems about Oliver herself, including praise, criticism and memorials.
LilDragonFly
Poem Published
2nd Apr 2023 7:36pm
2nd Apr 2023 7:36pm
Dawning on Me
Poetry Response to “Why I Wake
Early” by Mary Oliver
To me it is no great surprise
why I do rise
get a head start on the sun
roll out of my prosaic bed
stroll on in straight ahead
to my place by poetry’s window
wait for it all to dawn on me
where I can now look out
in both certainty and doubt
see the black canvas change
as these colors rearrange
upon Her perfect palette
Early” by Mary Oliver
To me it is no great surprise
why I do rise
get a head start on the sun
roll out of my prosaic bed
stroll on in straight ahead
to my place by poetry’s window
wait for it all to dawn on me
where I can now look out
in both certainty and doubt
see the black canvas change
as these colors rearrange
upon Her perfect palette
#confessional
#LifeAsAWriter
#WritingPoetry
#MaryOliver
#dawn
11 reads
2 Comments
LilDragonFly
Poem Published
16th Mar 2023 7:42pm
16th Mar 2023 7:42pm
Waking Early
Poetry Response to “Why
I Wake Early” ~ Mary Oliver
It is why I cannot sleep in
longing so to begin
peel free the citrus dawn
unwrap the black paper
shrouding this night
For each sunrise is a surprise
a gift box full of light
meant for me to hold tight
brighten the cold dark
again lighten my heart
I Wake Early” ~ Mary Oliver
It is why I cannot sleep in
longing so to begin
peel free the citrus dawn
unwrap the black paper
shrouding this night
For each sunrise is a surprise
a gift box full of light
meant for me to hold tight
brighten the cold dark
again lighten my heart
#hope
#confessional
#TruthOfLife
#MaryOliver
#dawn
8 reads
3 Comments
PoetsRevenge
Poem Published
3rd Jun 2022 6:20am
3rd Jun 2022 6:20am
Perspectives in Freedom
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend,
it ceases to exist."
- Salman Rushdie
"Speak, or be unheard,
open your mind or be confined.
You have so much to say
don't let self doubt take it away.
Open minds and hearts are listening
and they can affirm what is humanity
expressing and being itself in you
opinions aren't right or wrong, just unique;
it is bravery in action to shout in your
true voice as a lion would roar
and a fearless voice is a blessing
even in the...
it ceases to exist."
- Salman Rushdie
"Speak, or be unheard,
open your mind or be confined.
You have so much to say
don't let self doubt take it away.
Open minds and hearts are listening
and they can affirm what is humanity
expressing and being itself in you
opinions aren't right or wrong, just unique;
it is bravery in action to shout in your
true voice as a lion would roar
and a fearless voice is a blessing
even in the...
#freedom
#MaryOliver
#MayaAngelou
#NaPoWriMo2022
#HenryDavidThoreau
811 reads
6 Comments
LilDragonFly
Poem Published
25th Nov 2021 2:46pm
25th Nov 2021 2:46pm
One Wild and Precious Life
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild
and precious life" ~ Mary Oliver
Is it even near enough ~
could I ever hope it to be
to live the complete me
in this most singular life
With all the places seen
in shades of blue and green
I am still left here alone
wanting...
This gypsy spirit haunting
in its vagabond way
longing for each new day
to again begin
Deep wooded trails
high billowing sails
all so transport me
transform me
...
and precious life" ~ Mary Oliver
Is it even near enough ~
could I ever hope it to be
to live the complete me
in this most singular life
With all the places seen
in shades of blue and green
I am still left here alone
wanting...
This gypsy spirit haunting
in its vagabond way
longing for each new day
to again begin
Deep wooded trails
high billowing sails
all so transport me
transform me
...
#nature
#confessional
#travel
#SelfDiscovery
#MaryOliver
16 reads
3 Comments
LilDragonFly
Poem Published
9th Jun 2021 8:03pm
9th Jun 2021 8:03pm
Precious and Wild
Tell me, what will you do with your one wild and precious life" ~ Mary Oliver
Precious as a sparkling gem
wild as a dandelion seed
riding on a forgetful wind
to see what I can find
Not keeping track of time
but swimming in the rhyme
as I float along
in this most poetic air
Willing to take a dare
to make a wish
something I can relish
like a carefully creased poem
To carry with me when I roam
over hill and dale
when I pen this...
Precious as a sparkling gem
wild as a dandelion seed
riding on a forgetful wind
to see what I can find
Not keeping track of time
but swimming in the rhyme
as I float along
in this most poetic air
Willing to take a dare
to make a wish
something I can relish
like a carefully creased poem
To carry with me when I roam
over hill and dale
when I pen this...
#confessional
#LifeAsAWriter
#MyInspiration
#WritingPoetry
#MaryOliver
24 reads
5 Comments
LilDragonFly
Poem Published
25th Feb 2021 00:14am
25th Feb 2021 00:14am
Homeward Bound
The world offers itself to your imagination
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting”
Mary Oliver (1935 - 2019)
When they call to me
call me out
with all of my doubt
I know you are somewhere near
Always making it clear
that wild and precious
still remains
the only way to go
Whether on grass or snow
green spring or blue winter
smelling each pine splinter
I find along the way
Chasing wonder on the dunes ...
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting”
Mary Oliver (1935 - 2019)
When they call to me
call me out
with all of my doubt
I know you are somewhere near
Always making it clear
that wild and precious
still remains
the only way to go
Whether on grass or snow
green spring or blue winter
smelling each pine splinter
I find along the way
Chasing wonder on the dunes ...
#WritingPoetry
#MaryOliver
16 reads
5 Comments
AlisVolatPropriis8
Poem Published
19th Oct 2020 1:27pm
19th Oct 2020 1:27pm
Indulgence.
Because it pains
When you fall.
When you fall.
#MaryOliver
545 reads
1 Comment
PoetsRevenge
Poem Published
22nd Dec 2019 4:27am
22nd Dec 2019 4:27am
Bird Of Winter
A bird of Winter never leaves,
but remains behind
among the trees.
All the others far have flown
to winter Edens in
temperate zones.
I cannot see, but only hear,
my eyes stung with
crispest air
and whitest sky against grey limbs
twisted above
alone and slim.
The joyful bird echoes melodic notes
it's whitest wings
spread out as it floats
and lifts from one...
but remains behind
among the trees.
All the others far have flown
to winter Edens in
temperate zones.
I cannot see, but only hear,
my eyes stung with
crispest air
and whitest sky against grey limbs
twisted above
alone and slim.
The joyful bird echoes melodic notes
it's whitest wings
spread out as it floats
and lifts from one...
#trees
#birds
#winter
#nature
#MaryOliver
832 reads
17 Comments
Heaven_sent_Kathy
Poem Published
6th Oct 2019 12:29pm
6th Oct 2019 12:29pm
The City, The Forest and Other Bird Songs
( after Mary Oliver )
It is everywhere—
the echo
overlapping upon itself
as the sweet, lilting
songs of birds
in the
stiff, stately pines
standing thick,
dark and tall
between, among
the bleached high-rises,
their sterile glass eyes blink
from early shifting light
in the nip of dawn,
suddenly begin to herald
the new day—
and, with the vocal trills
lifting up from the
council of trees,
the span of a
disgruntled owl emerges,
leaving me
quelled of speech, ...
It is everywhere—
the echo
overlapping upon itself
as the sweet, lilting
songs of birds
in the
stiff, stately pines
standing thick,
dark and tall
between, among
the bleached high-rises,
their sterile glass eyes blink
from early shifting light
in the nip of dawn,
suddenly begin to herald
the new day—
and, with the vocal trills
lifting up from the
council of trees,
the span of a
disgruntled owl emerges,
leaving me
quelled of speech, ...
#city
#trees
#birds
#nature
#MaryOliver
838 reads
15 Comments
Ahavati
Tams
Tams
Poem Published
12th May 2019 8:15pm
12th May 2019 8:15pm
A Quintuple of Poets: Part II
Mary Oliver in Edo Period Japan
lived as a subordinate
tending family land;
circumvented convention
when blood-letting
into slump-soiled cherry roots;
each blossom's scarlet-stained
heart worn on its pink sleeve;
groomed blue horses without fences
dazzling over squash-colored fields—
counted five species of mimicking loons
drowning tadpole voices
down woodland throats;
remained alone after best-
friend Ai was purchased
by an...
lived as a subordinate
tending family land;
circumvented convention
when blood-letting
into slump-soiled cherry roots;
each blossom's scarlet-stained
heart worn on its pink sleeve;
groomed blue horses without fences
dazzling over squash-colored fields—
counted five species of mimicking loons
drowning tadpole voices
down woodland throats;
remained alone after best-
friend Ai was purchased
by an...
#LifeAsAWriter
#WritingPoetry
#culture
#MaryOliver
#tradition
905 reads
7 Comments
PoetsRevenge
Poem Published
9th May 2019 5:23am
9th May 2019 5:23am
Winter
The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone’
-Goethe
1
The crisp top of each wave
knows Winter as it breaches the wind.
The birds shorten their bodies to it,
ruffling in the breeze where they stand
and the low Sun knows it too;
it sinks a glowing amber disk
surrounded by grey sky.
The land is patched in whitest snow
peppered in browned and grey foliage.
2
How do I know Winter?
She comes to me at night
in light too dim to see. ...
-Goethe
1
The crisp top of each wave
knows Winter as it breaches the wind.
The birds shorten their bodies to it,
ruffling in the breeze where they stand
and the low Sun knows it too;
it sinks a glowing amber disk
surrounded by grey sky.
The land is patched in whitest snow
peppered in browned and grey foliage.
2
How do I know Winter?
She comes to me at night
in light too dim to see. ...
#winter
#nature
#LifeCycle
#MaryOliver
#NaPoWriMo2019
790 reads
6 Comments
PoetsRevenge
Poem Published
8th Mar 2019 00:04am
8th Mar 2019 00:04am
She Fell, Poetically
She fell poetically
waterfalling over rock cliffs protuberances,
in words gushing a million little rivers
setting them free against their witholdings.
Time set loose all withholdings
and gravity pulled the words
out of her soul.
And here, at falls, she broke apart
into a mist, a spray, a white ghost
of many tiny osmotic cells aloft,
each one a replica of her hearts yearnings
each one an evaporative memory of its own being
and all she was and had were memories.
A museum...
waterfalling over rock cliffs protuberances,
in words gushing a million little rivers
setting them free against their witholdings.
Time set loose all withholdings
and gravity pulled the words
out of her soul.
And here, at falls, she broke apart
into a mist, a spray, a white ghost
of many tiny osmotic cells aloft,
each one a replica of her hearts yearnings
each one an evaporative memory of its own being
and all she was and had were memories.
A museum...
#WritingPoetry
#MaryOliver
#LifeAsAWriter
640 reads
10 Comments
DU Poetry : Poems Inspired by Mary Oliver
#MaryOliver is curated by Ahavati (Tams).
