New and Selected Poems, Volume TwoUnderstand, I am always trying to figure out what the soul is, and where hidden, and what shape- New and Selected Poems, Volume Two, an anthology of forty-two new poems-an entire volume in itself-and sixty-nine poems hand-picked by Mary Oliver from six of her last eight books, is a major addition to a career in poetry that has spanned nearly five decades. Now recognized as an unparalleled poet of the natural world, Mary Oliver writes with unmatched dexterity and a profound appreciation for the divergence and convergence of all living things. Mary Oliver is always searching for the soul of things. In poem after poem, her investigations go from the humble green bean that nourishes her and makes her wonder if "something/-I can't name it-watches as I walk the/rows, accepting the gift of their lives/to assist mine" to the vast, untouchable bliss of "things you can't reach./But you can reach out to them, and all day long./The wind, the bird flying away./The idea of God." Oliver's search grows and is informed by experience, meditation, perception, and discernment. And all the while, during her quest, she is constantly surprised and fortified by joy. This graceful volume, designed to be paired with New and Selected Poems, Volume One, includes new poems on birds, toads, flowers, insects, bodies of water, and the extraordinary experience of the everyday in our lives. In the words of Alicia Ostriker,'Mary Oliver moves by instinct, faith, and determination. She is among our finest poets, and still growing.' In both the older and new poems, Mary Oliver is a poet at the height of her control of image and language. |
Contents
II | 3 |
III | 4 |
IV | 5 |
V | 6 |
VI | 7 |
VII | 8 |
VIII | 9 |
IX | 11 |
LIX | 84 |
LX | 85 |
LXI | 86 |
LXII | 87 |
LXIII | 89 |
LXIV | 90 |
LXV | 92 |
LXVI | 93 |
X | 13 |
XI | 15 |
XII | 16 |
XIII | 18 |
XIV | 19 |
XV | 20 |
XVI | 22 |
XVII | 23 |
XVIII | 24 |
XIX | 25 |
XX | 26 |
XXI | 28 |
XXII | 30 |
XXIII | 31 |
XXIV | 32 |
XXV | 33 |
XXVI | 34 |
XXVII | 36 |
XXVIII | 37 |
XXIX | 38 |
XXX | 40 |
XXXI | 42 |
XXXII | 43 |
XXXIII | 44 |
XXXIV | 45 |
XXXV | 46 |
XXXVI | 48 |
XXXVII | 49 |
XXXVIII | 50 |
XXXIX | 52 |
XL | 54 |
XLI | 55 |
XLII | 56 |
XLIII | 57 |
XLIV | 59 |
XLV | 61 |
XLVI | 62 |
XLVII | 64 |
XLVIII | 66 |
XLIX | 67 |
L | 69 |
LI | 71 |
LII | 72 |
LIII | 75 |
LIV | 76 |
LV | 77 |
LVI | 79 |
LVII | 81 |
LVIII | 82 |
LXVII | 94 |
LXVIII | 95 |
LXIX | 97 |
LXX | 99 |
LXXI | 101 |
LXXII | 103 |
LXXIII | 104 |
LXXIV | 106 |
LXXV | 108 |
LXXVI | 111 |
LXXVII | 113 |
LXXVIII | 115 |
LXXIX | 116 |
LXXX | 117 |
LXXXI | 119 |
LXXXII | 121 |
LXXXIII | 122 |
LXXXIV | 123 |
LXXXV | 124 |
LXXXVI | 126 |
LXXXVII | 128 |
LXXXVIII | 130 |
LXXXIX | 132 |
XC | 135 |
XCI | 141 |
XCII | 145 |
XCIII | 147 |
XCIV | 148 |
XCV | 149 |
XCVI | 151 |
XCVII | 152 |
XCVIII | 154 |
XCIX | 156 |
C | 157 |
CI | 158 |
CII | 159 |
CIII | 161 |
CIV | 162 |
CV | 164 |
CVI | 165 |
CVII | 167 |
CVIII | 169 |
CIX | 170 |
CX | 172 |
CXI | 173 |
CXII | 174 |
CXIII | 175 |
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon beautiful began begin beside bird blue body bones branches breathing calling climbed clouds coming course dark dead deep Early earth edge everything eyes face fall feathers feel feet field fire flowers grass gray green hands happened happiness head hear heart hold hope hurry inside keep lean leap leaves lifted light listen live look Mary Oliver mean mind morning mountain never night once pale perfect perhaps Pine Poems Poet pond rain rise road rose running shining shoulders silent simple sing snow soft sometimes song soul sound spring standing stars stones stopped summer sweet talked tall tell things thought touch trees turn understand walk watched weeds West Wind wild wind wings winter wonderful