Breakage

Click here to read "Breakage" by Mary Oliver which appeared in Poetry (August 2003).

Thank you for your words

Dear Reader,


Submissions are now closed for this blog. Thank you to the many readers of Oliver's work who have sent their notes and made this site possible. We, too, are grateful for Oliver's work, which has graced our lives.


All best,
Julie Brooks Barbour and Julie L. Moore
Editors

The Sparkling Dance

Dear Mary,

I want to say that I read your words, about loving the world and gratitude, about joyful days and good rain, and morning light and chats. I see the good in love and the sparkling dance for the world that you reveal and encourage. I sense your joy at birds in thorn thick bushes, always singing. I have dared to be happy in a pure white moment, and always start the day in happiness and kindness. I live on a good patch of this green earth, and know now that everything has his reasons, and our task is to love what is lovely.  I want to say that I love your words filled with gratitude and magical places. I love your cool and beautiful words, when said right allows the heart to bear it. And it does. Stand wherever you are, Mary Oliver, feel the rain rising, and be blessed.

Peter Schramm

A Solid Path

Dear Mary,

Thank you for each nurturing "nature bite" I take from your evocative poems. They swell my soul.

Thank you especially for "The Journey." That poem is frequently shared during 12 step recovery groups for women finding their way out from under abusive relationships. In my case, it was after the traumatic discovery of my spouse's betrayals. Initially, my only concern was how to help him, thinking that healing him would save and heal my family. Your poem, The Journey, opened my eyes and started me on a solid path of recovery and rebirth.

Thank you from the bottom of my healing heart. 

Judy Whelley

Whenever I See A Turtle

Dear Mary,

I’m a Vermont poet. I love your poetry and have a number of your books. Your “Turtle” poem in House of Light is one of my favorites.

I have written this poem for you.

Whenever I See a Turtle

            —for Mary Oliver

Whenever I see a turtle

I’m reminded to slow down.

What’s the rush?  True friends will wait,
will understand, will help.

Miss. Harris, my junior high math teacher,
frequently said to the class (or was it just to me?):

Patience is a virtue.

It’s funny how you remember things like that,
several decades later.

Turtles are assuredly patient. They like
sitting on a rock as they soak in the sun.

You never see them sprinting across a street.
Perhaps they are hopeful that a good Samaritan
will give them a helping hand
and bring them to safety.

I say, Forget the eye of the tiger. We should pay
closer attention to the eye of the turtle.

            Jerry Johnson

Your Words

Dear Mary,

Your words have mattered. Thank you so much.

Namaste.

Maryanne Stahl

When I Need a Push to Wake Up

Dear Mary,

It was eight years ago that a friend introduced me to "Wild Geese." I was hooked on the spot and remain an ardent and daily reader of your exquisite, uplifting, and challenging words. I memorize and recite your poems for the sheer joy of it and I begin each day in search of a serious response to your big question: "Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?" 

You have opened my eyes to the beauty of the Canadian Prairies, where I live. Your gentle reminders to pay attention, to be astonished, and to feel gratitude have enriched my life beyond any telling of it. At times of sadness, your words bring comfort, when I need a push to wake up, your words do that. 

A particular thrill is to commit a favourite poem to memory, with patience and care so that there settles in my mind a perfect copy of a Mary Oliver creation - every word, dash and comma in its place. Just as you intended.

With every good wish for a full recovery,

Denise Ommanney