Instead, the poet became heavily inspired by the works of Edna St. Upon graduation from high school, Oliver took classes at Vassar College and Ohio State but never graduated from either school. She would build small huts in the woods where she would retreat to write her early poetry. As she grew up in her small town near Cleveland, she often sought solace from a difficult upbringing in the comfort of nearby wooded areas, inspiring her to begin writing about nature for comfort. Her award-winning poetry received accolades throughout her lifetime, but her story begins with her birth in Maple Hills Heights, Ohio. She didn’t focus on large, disastrous aspects of nature instead, she took her time to learn more about the little things that make up the natural world. Often referred to by others as a “ guide to the natural world,” Mary Oliver was known for writing in a way that helped people form connections to the world around them. Still, she also infused distinctly American loneliness into her words-the solitary reflections of Thoreau gazing over a lake or of Whitman peering from the Brooklyn Ferry at the shuffling tides below his feet.” Here, we’ll explore Mary Oliver’s history, career path, and awards and look at some examples of her nature-themed poetry. She worked in the Romantic tradition of Wordsworth or Keats. Oliver’s work left a mark on the world, especially for those who prefer the company of nature to the company of social settings.Īccording to a profile on the prolific poet in The New Yorker, “With her consistent, shimmering reverence for flora and fauna, Oliver made herself one of the most beloved poets of her generation. Rather than writing about a pre-determined topic, the poet used nature in our world as her muse, exploring the world around her to decide the subject of her next poem. Oliver’s daily long walks in nature served as her inspiration for many of her poems. While the author had a difficult childhood, she states that her tough upbringing forced her to seek solace in writing, serving as a constant motivation to continue honing her craft over her long life. Known for developing a strong connection with the natural world, Mary Oliver’s poetry shares her beloved memories of New England and Ohio.

Here, we’ll explore Mary Oliver, one of the most widely-read American poets.

Mary Oliver is remembered for winning the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

Mary oliver complete poems