Wild and Precious
I have chosen my one little word for 2026 (Fixing) and am considering various manifesto projects for these winter months (and recently interested in the concept of Rule of Life), but the place offering me the most inspiration is listening to the audiobook Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver. This audiobook, narrated by actress and activist Sophia Bush, features selections from the late poet’s work, in her own voice, plus a tapestry of complementary voices reflecting on Oliver’s legacy.
I am taking this journey with Mary Oliver’s friends, students, and fans gently and slowly so I can appreciate the poetry and the stories, but here are some selected poems that I want to explore more thoroughly offering many aspects of Mary Oliver and her view of the world. Hunting through the wilds of the internet to find these texts have also brought additional voices into the conversation in very interesting ways:
- Yellow by Mary Oliver
- On Meditating Sort Of by Mary Oliver
- Praying by Mary Oliver
- Where Does the Temple Begin, Where Does It End? by Mary Oliver
- Lonely, White Fields by Mary Oliver
- Song of the Builders by Mary Oliver
- Percy by Mary Oliver
- I Happened To Be Standing by Mary Oliver
- Mindful by Mary Oliver
- The Ponds by Mary Oliver
- Of The Empire by Mary Oliver
- Tecumseh by Mary Oliver
- Rage by Mary Oliver
I have always appreciated the way that the songs and stories we love span space and time and connect us with other humans who love those songs and stories and the poets who wrought them, but savoring those connections can never be enough. There is always more to discover. What word or poem will inspire you this new year? Which Mary Oliver will be your muse?
More Mary Oliver inspiration from the audiobook Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver:
- Goldenrod by Mary Oliver
- Conversations by Mary Oliver
- Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night by Mary Oliver
- Percy Wakes Me by Mary Oliver
- Her Grave by Mary Oliver
- The Kingfisher by Mary Oliver
- Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
- Pilot Snake by Mary Oliver
- When Death Comes by Mary Oliver
- Peonies by Mary Oliver
- Heavy by Mary Oliver
- In Blackwater Woods by Mary Oliver
- Humpbacks by Mary Oliver
- The Fish by Mary Oliver
- Skunk Cabbage by Mary Oliver
- The Kookaburras by Mary Oliver
- Black Oaks by Mary Oliver
- The Sun by Mary Oliver
- The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
- Just Around the House, Early in the Morning by Mary Oliver
- Bear by Mary Oliver
And if that is not enough inspiration, I offer photographer Shaaz Jung’s rare and enchanting moment: An elephant, deep within the mist-shrouded forest, stood in quiet communion with a tiny bird perched on his tusk. (shared by Massimo):
