Mary Oliver Poem #2: Wild Geese



Throughout my life, I have always been an overthinker. Unfortunately, this has led to a lot of unnecessary stress and pressure that I’ve put upon myself over the years. These thoughts may be common amongst people whether it is for social or academic reasons, but I still find ways to over-amplify these emotions. This is why Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese” was so appealing to me. 

The first couple of lines read, “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting”

This quote emphasizes the importance of not dragging yourself down for being imperfect. My parents had to remind me as a kid that living a life of constant regret and worry wasn’t doing any good other than hindering my mental and physical health. Oftentimes, one of the ways I take my mind off stressors is by thinking about nature. It is weirdly comforting knowing that although I’m experiencing personal challenges, nature around me continues to live on and experience hardships of its own. Take the geese from Mary Oliver’s poem who needed to navigate the difficulties of finding their way home from a long winter. 

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