Felicity: Poems | 
Things take the time they take. Don't worry.
How many roads did St. Augustine follow
before he became St. Augustine?
so-soOnce again I felt like reading poetry. This was a nice collection of poems. I enjoyed their pastoral nature and they made me think of the Romantic Era poetry I had to read in college (which I enjoyed)
pickDefinitely repeating some aspect of my previous reviews of Oliver's poetry collections when I say, I love how she writes about Nature, no interest in poems emphasizing a capital 'G' god, on the fence about those that read more like environmentalist lamenting corrupt world.
Faves from this collection include:
Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way - found two new quotes
That Tall Distance - the imagery !
That Little Beast - charming☺️
The key to my favourite hiking experiences.
Oof. Grad school memories: isolation, insomnia walks in inclement weather.
My windfall #BookHaul was mostly poetry.
I read another volume of Oliver's poems earlier this year & will slowly gather more, I think.
I ❤️ the cover of Camus' The Plague, a '67 🐧.
The Rubáiyát is Arberry's faithful translation of Khayyám, with a selection of other classic poets exemplifying the variety of Persian verse forms.
More 🐧s:
Late T'ang poets, which a quick flick through makes me wish it was x10 longer!
De Beauvoir's memoir of her ⬇️
pickWow what an emotional pick me up. I love the simplicity of her poems and how they can portray so much so quickly.
Which new books of poetry should I check out?
I‘m always a sucker for nature poetry.
Looking for beauty & hope (twinned in with whatever else the poet has to offer).
pickEverything that was broken has
forgotten its brokenness. I live
now in a sky-house, through every
window the sun. Also your presence.
Our touching, our stories. Earthy
and holy both. How can this be, but
it is. Every day has something in
it whose name is Forever.
-- 5⭐️
#poetry #felicity #maryoliver #bookstagram #bookish
pick#AyUpAugust Day 1: It was a #CryMeARiver moment when Mary Oliver passed away. This is one of my fave poems from this collection.
I‘m so over the moon about this article right now! It‘s about the wildness of girlhood, ancient rituals, playing in the woods, art, magic, & poetry. All of the literary references could‘ve come straight from my bookshelves. God, it‘s good. 💀💖😭
https://overland.org.au/2019/07/the-wildness-of-girlhood/
pickI read this so quickly but it was because on every page, I felt like Oliver found me and wrote my thoughts. I used two of the poems in my husband‘s anniversary card for this year.
pickThis is lovely. A beautiful love letter to life and nature. Poignant and uplifting.
#ReadHarder challenge 11: a collection of poetry published since 2014
(look at the pretty cover. I know you shouldn't judge them but still.)
In the poem Storage, Mary Oliver writes about her freedom in emptying a storage closet.
I feel seen.
#poetry
pickThis was my poetry pick for April, and I devoured it in two sittings. I then returned to it to mull over my favorites during the rest of the month. Mary Oliver‘s poetry is always beautiful and reflective for me—making me slow down, challenging me to attentiveness and wonder. This collection was no exception—a gorgeous (if brief) selection of poems on happiness and love.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.
—from “The Gift” by Mary Oliver
There are moments that cry out to be fulfilled.
Like, telling someone you love them.
Or giving your money away, all of it.
Your heart is beating, isn‘t it?
You‘re not in chains, are you?
There is nothing more pathetic than caution
when headlong might save a life,
even, possibly, your own.
Do you bow your head when you pray or do you look up into that blue space?
Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions.
And don‘t worry about what language you use,
God no doubt understands them all.
Even when the swans are flying north and making
such a ruckus of noise, God is surely listening & understanding.
Rumi said, There is no proof of the soul.
But isn‘t the return of spring and how it
springs up in our hearts a pretty good hint?
Why do people keep asking to see
God‘s identity papers
when the darkness opening into morning
is more than enough?
Certainly any god might turn away in disgust.
so-so"August of another summer, and once again
I am drinking the sun
and the lilies are spread across the water.
I know what they want is to touch each other."
None of these really moved me, although there were some nice moments here and there, like the lines above from "The Pond." I don't think that any of these poems will stay with me.
Starting this beauty tonight before bed. I love this: “Things take the time they take. Don‘t worry.” 💜
Everyone now and again wonders about
those questions that have no ready
answers: first cause, God's existence,
what happens when the curtain goes
down & nothing stops it, not kissing,
not going to the mall, not the Super Bowl.
"Wild roses," I said to them one morning.
"Do you have the answers? And if you do,
would you tell me?"
The roses laughed softly. "Forgive us,"
they said. "But as you can see, we are
just now entirely busy being roses."
pickJust meant to flip through a little, but it‘s impossible to read Mary Oliver without a deep dive.
1. Books. Especially anything from the Babysitter‘s Club series. I also collected porcelain dolls...until that fateful night when they became utterly terrifying to me (dun, dun, dun!😱🔪)
2. I don‘t gift books often. I think the one I‘ve given most (like, twice 😂) is “Felicity” by Mary Oliver.
3. In my 30s but younger than 35 (Happy birthday, @jesshowbooks 🎉!)
4. It‘s just under 50 miles from my current city to my hometown.
5. On it. 🙌🏻🎁
pickI haven't been able to read much lately but I did finish this. Poetry is not my thing, but she is amazing.
pickI LOVE MARY OLIVER! Thank you @Cca0601 for pulling me this way in the bookstore. I look forward to many a morning's reread of these poems. Also, isn't it something happy to hold a slim volume of poetry and know you're about to read it? I love how it feels in the hands.
pickThis was a reread. My mother-in-law recently let me borrow a book of poetry ("Milk & Honey" by Rupi Kaur); she'd dog-eared her favorite poems. I thought it'd be fun to give her another book of poems with my favorites dog-eared when I return it. I chose "Felicity." I love Mary Oliver. Such grace, peace & wonder. My favorites in this collection are "Roses", "This Little Beast", "Except for the Body" & "Nothing is Too Small Not to Be Wondered About."
pickThis poem is titled 'Moments'. I'd heard of Mary Oliver, but I usually avoid poetry. But I really enjoyed this collection, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Littens: S.O.S.!
I'm trying to read more poetry ('tis the season). I asked a group of librarians for suggestions and their answers have been rather academic (perhaps I shouldn't be surprised). So, I'm trying another source. Help a sister out?
Some details: my favorite poet is Mary Oliver. I'm already on the waiting list for both "Milk & Honey" by Rupi Kaur and "Salt" by Nayyirah Waheed.
Thanks!
pickLoved this collection, reading about her late-in-life romance blossoming.
I must have marked fifteen poems and passages. This book is sooooo good.
Giggle with me Littens! I usually buy myself a book I know I'll like during the year, save it for Christmas, and wrap it to open it on Christmas morning when my kids open their books. But this year at different times, I apparently bought myself the same book twice!
pickAnother gorgeous collection by Mary Oliver! She's such a treat to read. I re-visit her work regularly. #poetry #queerbooks
pickDrowsy morning Mary Oliver feels like a good and much-needed stretching session. She instills such a sense of gratitude. Rain falling through the fire escape, a break in the August heat, everything passes through the prism of her poetry and emerges a reason for celebration! #poetryeverydamnday
pick"Try to find the right place for yourself. If you can't find it, at least dream of it."
My reading (& general life) time has been consumed by work, stress, trips, anxiety, & other demands lately. I'd been subconsciously saving this one for the right time and damn--am I glad that I did. Soul food.?
