[stylist] Mary Oliver

[Jacobson, Shawn D]

Thanks

Sounds fascinating.  I'm ready to read something that will give me a spiritual jolt (it's been a while).

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William L Houts via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:56 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] Mary Oliver


Hi Gang,

I've just been listening to some Mary Oliver poems.  You know, sometimes --well, occasionally anyway-- I get sort of snarky about the quality of other poets's work as compared to mine.  I mean, I'm resspectful, but inside I may think, hey, noble effort.  I know, real jerkaholic, right?  
But a friend of mine just read me some Mary Oliver stuff, and all sense of ego and competition just drained out of the soles of my feet like some noxious black oil. The lady is a prophetess.  In one poem, for instance, she refers to "the soft animal of the body".  And the poem entitled "Peonies" completely humbles me.  That's basically where I go in response to all of her work:  humility. If you hear that she's giving a reading nearby, or you have a chance to catch her on the radio, you could do yourself a great favor by pointing your Victor Reader Stream at her station and tuning in. As black youths used to say a while back, it's dope.


--Bill




-- 


"Oh, Sophie! Whyfore have you eated all de cheeldren?"

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