Mary Oliver's Wild Geese

329 Words2 Pages
Some believe in moving forward without looking back. Mary Oliver’s poem, “Wild Geese,” inspires individuals to come full circle, combining the past with the future in order to bring out the best in the human spirit. In fact, the title evokes images of freedom, reliance on others and an illustration of repeated determination. Oliver stirs the reader with striking imagery of unwavering geese on the wing and the steadfast return to their habitat. Throughout the poem, Oliver speaks to the reader with a tone of encouragement. The Ñrst stanza focuses on the individual, persuading the reader to look inward. For instance, the Ñrst line “You do not have to be good,” is aÔrmation that merely being is precious. The following two lines, “You do
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