Wild Geese by Oliver

1307 Words3 Pages

“Wild Geese” is very different from many poems written. Oliver’s personal life, the free form of the poem along with the first line, “You do not have to be good,” and the imagery of nature contributes to Oliver’s intent to convince the audience that to be part of the world, a person does not need to aspire to civilization’s standards.

Oliver would write this poem because she did not conform to societies wishes. According to the Poetry Foundation, Oliver has never actually received a degree despite attending The Ohio State University and Vassar College. By not completing college, she had stepped out of the normal procedure of American life of growing up, going to college, then working. She also “met her long-time partner, Molly Malone Cook” while helping organize Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry. This choice is not a normal decision for people to make; however, she is still successful and has been presented many awards, including Honorary Doctorates (Beacon). Despite living the way she wants to, Oliver still manages to have success and happiness.

Furthermore, Oliver clearly demonstrates the point that you do not have to follow society’s rules to be happy in her poem, “Wild Geese,” by using free form structure for a poem that does not rhyme. Many poems rhyme. By not rhyming or following a set structure, Oliver demonstrates that the poem does not need to follow the normal requirements for a poem to have meaning. The poem begins with a bold statement: “You do not have to be good.” The first line does not have a rhythm or pattern, which further demonstrates the further delineation from the status quo of poetry in this poem. The difference in structure between this poem and many others helps to set the poem and its message apart fro...

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...ia work to support Oliver’s argument.

Works Cited

Beveridge, Alex. Personal Interview. 2 Sep. 2010.

"Contributor Biography: Mary Oliver." Beacon Press: Independent Publisher of Serious Fiction and Non-Fiction. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. .

Hayden, Robert. "Mary Oliver : The Poetry Foundation : Find Poems and Poets. Discover Poetry." The Poetry Foundation: Find Poems and Poets. Discover Poetry. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. .

Oliver, Mary. “Wild Geese.” Literature. Ed. Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, Dana. Longman, 2010. 861.

Wild Geese (Original). 18 March 2010. Youtube. 2 Sep. 2010. .

Wild Geese-- a poem by Mary Oliver. 1 May 2009. Youtube. 2 Sep. 2010. .

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