Thirst: Poems by Mary Oliver (2006-10-15)

`Nature poetry' at its best is matching words and rhythms with life's infinite diversity of sounds and sights. It is a physical struggle of wit and often humour; it is raw, jarring, and at times red in tooth and claw. Mary Oliver has been a master of it - see her encounters with owls.

There is inherent danger with `nature poetry'. When words fail the poet he may be tempted to replace her curiosity with wonder, astonishment, and eventually mushy spirituality, or even mystic unity. As such poetry moves from long argument to disembodied deist sentiment it loses dimensions - it becomes kitsch (as Kundera would opine).

Mary Oliver's Thirst is the record of such deist drift and the result is disappointing. She does not have the frenzy mysticism of a Rumi. She does not affirm her unconditional love of God like St. Francis Hers is consolative - hence instrumental - poetry in a minor key.

I thought to myself, "It must be about time for

Mary Oliver to have released another poetry

collection." and was so pleased to find

_Thirst_ on the shelf.

The moment I opened it I realized this was

going to be even more compelling than

nearly any other poetry I have ever read.

I sat in Barnes and Noble, crying openly,

laughing, smiling and revisiting poems

and phrases and just being amazed at the

transcendence I felt from Ms. Oliver's words.

This is a poetry book I will give to my

"non poetry" friends as well as my poetry

friends.

It is about the sacredness of life itself, it

is about love - never ending. It is about

coming to understand wholeness.

And so much more. It is difficult to express

with words how impactful this book is upon

my soul. As one reviewer said below, five stars

are not enough.

Mary Oliver's THIRST is a collection of mostly elegiac verse, mourning the death of her beloved partner, Molly Malone Cook. Hard-hearted indeed is the reader who could fail to be implicated by the lucid sincerity and subtle craft of these poems. Oliver, a Christian of the Episcopal communion, has given us poems with almost a psalmic cadence (see, especially, "More Beautiful than the Honey Locust Tree Are the Words of the Lord"). In "The Vast Ocean Begins," we have the mysteries of faith presented as something fresh, as something new, and as something positively adventurous. An ungenerous reader might indict Mary Oliver for a slackness or a "prosiness" in one or two spots; seen more charitably, it is the fluency of idiom of a poet who wishes to keep as close to speech as possible.

THIRST marked this reader's first prolonged encounter with the verse of Mary Oliver, so the review is perhaps biased by this particular fondness of discovery. But suffice it to say that in her grief, Oliver has given us many beautiful lyrics that will help sustain the spirit grown weary of noise, of din, of shouting, of callousness.

I also recommend, with equal approbation, her more recent volume, Evidence: Poems.

Other reviewers have spoken well of Mary Oliver's grief at the death of her partner and her search for God. I want to mention a poem that spoke to me and said "If only.". If only our leaders would read this poem, be touched by it to move in other directions.

Mozart,for Example

All the quick notes
Mozart didn't have time to use
before he entered the cloud-boat

are falling now from the beaks
of the finches
that have gathered from the joyous summer

into the hard winter
and, like Mozart, they speak of nothing
but light and delight,

though it is true, the heavy blades of the world
are still pounding underneath.
And this is what you can do too, maybe,

if you live simply and with a lyrical heart
in the cumbered neighborhoods or even,
as Mozart sometimes managed to, in a palace,

offering tune after tune after tune,
making some hard-hearted prince
prudent and kind, just by being happy.

This excellent book entitled, "Thirst" by Mary Oliver, is very exciting to read. The poems are realistic, contemporary, and inspiring to the soul. It leaves one with a sense of feeling which brings tranquility to the mind, body and spirit.

The architectural style of the poems is very pleasing to the eyes and actually gives a different feeling while reading the lines. The variation of such designs makes the poems easier to read. Her innovative style of writing also makes the poems very interesting and inspiring.

Beginning with the first poem in this excellent book, "Messenger," with such words as, "a mouth with which to give shouts of joy," set the stage for a refreshing and an encouraging read. Here she presents to us, that the mouth should be used to sing, give praises, and build things up, instead of belittling, tearing down or destroying things.

Another great poem is, "When Roses Speak, I Pay Attention." This is also an enchanting and touching poem to read. Imagine the scent of roses on Valentine's Day with such aromatic fragrance which speaks to the mind, body, and soul; who would not pay attention and listen?

Her expression in "Making the House Ready for the Lord," is very moving and evolving. She presents her questions to the Lord in such an eloquent fashion, while seeking His advice. The raccoon limping into the kitchen, fox staring boldly down the path in the new fallen snow, including the lost dog, all of which she speaks with, thus presenting such enchanting and fascinating images. Consider her words to each of them, as she says,"Come in, Come in!" This picture is similar to Like Noah and the Ark; her home was ready for the Lord.

The dynamic, inspirational, and uplifting poem "The Uses of Sorrows," certainly shows the tenacity and perseverance of the soul. It represents aspects of life we must understand and react to in a positive manner by embracing and learning from its essence. She presents to us that sorrows could actually be joy based on our perception and state of reference when receiving and processing such events.

The Epilogue entitled, "Thirst," with the same name of the book, shows her humility. She asked in a humble fashion for the granting of more time to accomplish her tasks on Earth, since she is a slow learner who is very thirsty. This is such a wonderful sign of humbleness to her Lord as she continues with her inspiration and uplifting mission of reviving souls.

This book is a must read. One has to read it to appreciate the other wonderful poems on its golden pages.

Submitted by "Epulaeryu Master."

In "Thirst", Mary Oliver bravely introduces us to her rediscovered religion - Christianity, and she does it in the most familiar, pantheistic, gently questioning way. Like how she tenderly describes the transformation of the simple substances of bread and wine, at the same time wondering how she can quiet herself to enter into that mystery, in `Coming to God: First Days'.

Blending the worlds of Earth spirituality with the more `traditional' `religious' must not have been without some setbacks for the poet in, `More Beautiful Than the Honey Locust Tree Are the Words of the Lord':
"I had such a longing for virtue, for company.
I wanted Christ to be as close as the cross I wear.
I wanted to read and serve, to touch the altar linen.
Instead I went back to the woods where not a single tree
turns its face away."

I find poetry very enjoyable and therapeutic. This Pulitzer Prize winning poet who writes about the natural world is my cup of tea. She may be yours as well. Let me just tantalize you with a few lines from a poem called "The Summer Day" to give you a taste of what her poetry is like.

I do know how to pay attention,
how to fall down
into the grass,
how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?"

Oliver's poetry works for me generally; Thirst worked for me particularly. Materiality and spirituality coincide here again and again. I've already re-read, and am sure I will continue to do so in the future.

In Mary Olivers' latest book, Thirst, I find, once again, her never-ending quest for the answers that we all seek...her spirituality pours over the edges of the book and onto myself...and I, in turn, struggle alongside her to find the same answers...she, once again, helps us in and on our spiritual path....Thanks, Mary...your writing is still pure and thoughtful...and makes me realize that I am not the only seeker in the world.

* Thirst, Mary Oliver. The tone of this beautiful collection of poems is set in the first line of the first poem, entitled Messenger: "My work is loving the world." It is obvious in this collection and in the larger body of her work throughout her life that her work is loving the world deeply. And it is in this same spirit that, after the death in 2005 of her beloved longtime partner Molly Malone Cook, has led her back to the church she disengaged from many years ago. Her journey has always been a spiritual one. In her poems about Jesus, God, faith and sacraments it is clear that for her, rdeengaging with the church is part of loving the world. A line in her poem "A Beautiful Striped Sparrow" says it best: "as they promised,/ God, once he in your heart,/ is everywhere--"

Though her path is different from mine, and though it may be off-putting to some, I deeply appreciate and respect each of these poems. I look forward to seeing more from her as she continues her work of loving the world.

National treasure Mary Oliver, in a book as fierce in love as it is numinous with understandings of God and wilderness, gives us Thirst. The poems in this collection celebrate the life and death of Oliver's beloved partner of over 40 years, Molly Malone Cooke. Oliver's art, sharp and expansive, is stunning, brilliant, and made of adoration.

"Thirst" is my favorite book of Mary Oliver's poems and prose. This contains some of her most overtly spiritual work. You can find a kindred spirit in her words. In addition to the title poem "Thirst," I especially loved "Making the House Ready for the Lord."

I read lots of different material and am rarely touched as deeply as I have been while reading Mary Oliver's "Thirst." Her poems have moved me to prayer; for myself, my loved ones, this beautiful world and for the poet herself. Thank you.

This book has very little of the enchantment and spark I have come to expect from Mary Oliver. Most of the poems seem off balance and dry. I wish her all the best and hope she recovers from her grief.