Mary Oliver Poem #1: Hummingbirds



During the summer, when I was back home in San Diego, I often gazed outside my bedroom window in hopes of seeing a new family of hummingbirds nesting for the upcoming season. My Mom would always tell me that hummingbirds bring great luck to those whom they surround themselves with. Therefore, it was always a challenge for my sister and I to locate the nest in the yard. Although we couldn’t find it every year, I still had the pleasure of observing numerous generations of hummingbirds throughout my childhood years. I was always fascinated by the unique nature of the species. Not only are hummingbirds colorful and aesthetically beautiful, but they also carry some of the craziest miracles life has to offer. My favorite example of this is their ability to fly at high speeds and occasionally even fly backward. 


In Mary Oliver’s poem “Hummingbirds”, she lists the physical characteristics of a hummingbird and describes the activities of its daily life. I believe this explanation symbolizes the hardship we face as humans and the idea of pushing through adversity. Hummingbirds are extremely small, and at times it can be difficult for them to carry out their daily activities. In fact, most of the time hummingbirds are seen resting due to the amount of energy they expend on collecting bugs and nectar. Therefore, I believe Mary Oliver’s message can be tied to humans prospering through the challenges that life throws at us. Specifically, I use the connection from the poem as motivation as I navigate through the challenges of college.

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