New and Selected Poems, Volume One

The only problem with a volume of Mary Oliver's collected poems is that whichever poems end up excluded are likely to be the reader's loss. Such incomparable consistency of craft and soul can be expected, every single time, from Ms. Oliver! That said, no poem here is undeserving of its inclusion, and if it took an anthology like this to have you wonder about reading her for the first time, then thank God for this book. Included here -note that this is only the first volume- are works from her earlier books, all of which are worth buying separately. A particularly important inclusion are the selections of American Primitive, in my opinion her most moving and accomplished collection. Those who adore poems like the glorious "Wild Geese" or were moved by the wisdom of "The Journey," will be happy to know that they are, of course, contained in this volume, along with many others begetting similar acclaim. So, five stars for Ms. Oliver only because I can't give her ten. As far as the publisher, I would have liked a clearer indication that this is the very same edition already published years ago. At least in my case, the additional subtitle -"Volume One"- confused me and led me to buy something I already owned. In the other hand, if such mention indicates the upcoming release of a second volume -specially if more uncollected poems may be part of it, I'll be satisfied and forgiving. For those who own everything by her and do not possess this volume, this is still a valid purchase on the basis of the, once, "new poems" contained and not available anywhere else. Welcome -or welcome back- to the poetry of Mary Oliver. Let these words take your breath away with its exquisite and gently fierce call to opening your heart and be intelligent toward all beings.

The best poems say with words that which can't be said with words. I know that sounds like double-talk, but it's true. The best poems act as catalysts, creating emotions and connections in us that the words taken by themselves just don't convey. For example, veteran poet Mary Oliver's poem "Rain" (the first in her "New and Selected Poems, Volume One") opens with "All afternoon it rained, then / such power came down from the clouds / on a yellow thread, / as authoritative as God is supposed to be. / When it hit the tree, her body / opened forever." Beautiful, profound, and any attempt at explanation effectively kills the poetry. Mary Olver's poems are like that: clear imagery, simple language, common themes brought together like "power . . . on a yellow thread" that packs a wallop. How's THIS for a brightly-lit thought: "Is the soul solid, like iron? / Or is it tender and breakable, like / the wings of a moth in the beak of the owl?" And this seasoned poet has a few observations about life to share with us: "You do not have to be good. / You do not have to walk on your knees / for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. / You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." I've already ordered her "New and Selected Poems, Volume Two."

I was recently invited to contribute to a poets and artists even called Wings, Feathers, Flight. Each poet was to read a selection from their own work and another from anothe rpoet. One of the poets read Oliver's poem on wild geese. Everyone seemed to know her and it. I immediately went out and bought this volume. Here is a poet who can lay such a careful argument that a line like: "We hope for magic; mystery endures." flows naturally from its contest into the verses that follow. Others: "To live in this world // you must ebe able / to do three things: / to love what is mortal; / to hold it // against your bones kknowing / your own life depends on it; / and, when the time comes to let it go, / to let it go." "Oh what good it does the heart / to know it isn't magic!" "I don't know exactly what prayer is. / I do know how to pay attention. ... / Tell me, what else should I have done?" "... the heart cries aloud: / yes, I am willing to be / that wild darkness, / that long, blue body of light." All this, mind you, in the contest of sumptuous, sharply observed, nature poetry. (The poems on owls I find particularly arresting.) This as superb as any carefully edited anthology can be -- and it's by a single author! What must Volume 2 (published October 2005) be like?!?

Many of Mary Oliver’s poems flow with an anthem-like lyricism that often attests to the grandeur and mystery of the natural world. She plays the role of a quiet witness in order to observe and learn what life has to teach: how happiness is possible if you resign yourself to the rapture and beauty of the world around you. She wants to be invested in the glory and energy of nature and understand its holiness, its closeness to God. She loves all flora and fauna and wants to connect to them. Her compassion for life allows her to look upon the world with gratitude and appreciation. The wildness and sheer power and intensity of nature is more than miraculous; it is her source of bliss and strength. She allows the power of the natural world to keep her memory active with visions and dreams of her elemental self becoming one with the universe. Her poetry is an attempt to achieve that union, and few poets can inspire the way she does.

Excellent!

This book arrived on time and in new condition--an excellent buy for a small price. I like the poems very much. Occasionally, a poem strikes me as a bit too self-conscious. But Oliver's metaphors are imaginative, and I think that all in all she is the best poetic interpreter of the positive aspects of nature that we have here in America.

If you love poetry, she will be among your treasures. If you don't love poetry, she'll be among your treasures.

Mary Oliver is a genius. You can be more or less close to her poetics, but she has surely “that little something”. My complaints are addressed to the edition. There is something called “publishing” and there is something called “printing”. This “book”, although the term is too generous for the case, belongs to the second category. I don’t know if I should read it or use it to fix a leaning piece of furniture. This should be warned by Amazon. I don’t have a printer myself but in case I had, I’d rather have printed some poems from the internet that buying this bunch of papers put together.

Book came in perfect condition

Os poemas são belíssimos e o livro chegou em perfeito estado; considerando que veio de fora. Fiquei muito feliz com a compra!

Great poetry and advice