Poetry Friday: My Mary Oliver Plunge
Newsletter!
I have a teacher & librarian useletter that I send out on the 15th of every month. If you don’t subscribe and would like to, please click here to sign up. It goes out tomorrow.
This week’s Poetry Friday host is Jone Rush MacCullough. Click here to see the roundup.
My Mary Oliver Plunge
I’ve been vowing to do a deep dive in Mary Oliver for awhile now. I kept thinking that I’d wait until summer and try to read all of the Mary Oliver books I own back to back.
But I recently finished another poetry book, so with spring fully here, I decided NOW is the perfect time.
I got a Mary Oliver sticker for a special notebook and I am planning to do my 3-a-day poetry reading and note-taking on Mary Oliver — and no one else — until I finish reading all of her books that I own. So, I’m taking the Mary Oliver plunge.
Feel free to tell me your favorite Mary Oliver collection. I have quite a few, but I don’t own them all, so I will get the rest at the library if you have a particular favorite.
What I’m Reading
by Mary Oliver
I’m starting off my Mary Oliver plunge with WHY I WAKE EARLY.
Haiku of the Week
sandpiper foot race
speed up, slow down, dip in–
no wings needed
Photo & Haiku © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: April 4, 2023 at North Topsail Beach
Haiku Written: April 4, 2023
Haiku Moments Playlist
Poetry Printables Page
Sign up for poetry postcards
What I’m Noticing
I made a mini-windowsill bouquet from the last of the daffodils in a bamboo cup my dad just gave me from Thailand.
16 Comments
Rose Cappelli
I’m also a Mary Oliver fan! There are so many poems and collections of hers I love. If I had to pick a favorite poem it would probably be “Freshen the Flowers, She Said” which is in the volume shown in your picture. I also like several (lots) of the poems in Felicity. And today I just saw this quote I have posted on the cover of Redbird: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” Thanks for your haiku, too!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
So many great suggestions! I can’t wait to dig in!
Irene Latham
Now IS the perfect time! A Mary Oliver deep dive is most certainly time well spent. Her UPSTREAM essays are everything to me. See you soon! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Luckily, I brought UPSTREAM with me to Highlights!
Buffy Silverman
If you are a dog lover (and even if you’re not) you would likely enjoy Dog Songs. Thank you for the magnolia haiku/photo. The first magnolias I’ve seen this spring (but I’m guessing they are about to pop with the warm weather we’ve had this week.)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I will check out Dog Songs. I’m always amazed at the variety of magnolias we have and how stunning they are!
Catherine Flynn
I could watch those sandpipers racing across the shore all day. My favorite Mary Oliver collection is “Felicity”, and “A Poetry Handbook” was full of inspiration. I love the title “Why I Wake Early!” It would be a good strike line for a Golden shovel.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’ve read A POETRY HANDBOOK a couple of times. I will definitely check out FELICITY.
Linda Baie
I return to ‘A Poetry Handbook’ often, Marcie. You’re going to find much inspiration in the books you’re reading. I never stop loving the ‘speed up slow down’ of sandpipers, a wonderful beachside show.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, A POETRY HANDBOOK is very much dog-eared at my house.
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, I just finished adding my line to the Progressive Poem and have the honor of handing the reins over to you. I must admit that I grappled with the next line on how to move the poem forward in your capable hands. Since I have been sneezing and on two new meds to stop my itchy eyes from getting inflamed, I added a bit of reality to the poem with a whimsical touch.
I recently started my journey with Mary Oliver and enjoyed your poem that made me long for the Long Island shore, watching the baby gulls grow throughout the summers. Alliteration was a wonderful tool in your poem.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Carol, I hope you feel better soon! The pollen is so bad right now! I have scheduled my post for tomorrow with an added line.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
I’m wondering if your sandpiper haiku is a response-poem to Why I Wake Early? — hmm… I’ll ask you when I see you TODAY!
Jone MacCulloch
I love your deep dive into Mary Oliver!
Pingback:
Pingback: