Mary Oliver - Listening to the World

Mary Oliver was one of our greatest and most beloved poets. She is often quoted by people across ages and backgrounds - and it’s fitting, since she described poetry as a sacred community ritual. “When you write a poem, you write it for anybody and everybody,” she said. Mary died on January 17, 2019, at the age of 83. She was a prolific and decorated poet whose honors included the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. In this 2015 conversation - one of the rare interviews she granted during her lifetime - she discussed the wisdom of the world, the salvation of poetry, and the life behind her writing. (Original Air Date: February 5, 2015)
About the Guest:
Mary Oliver published over 25 books of poetry and prose, including “Dream Work,” “A Thousand Mornings,” and “A Poetry Handbook.” She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1984 for her book “American Primitive.” Her final work, “Devotions,” is a curated collection of poetry from her more than 50-year career.
Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: onbeing.org/programs/mary-oli...
Visit our On Being Classics Library, where this episode is featured: onbeing.org/libraries/classics/
STAY IN TOUCH
Facebook: / onbeing
Twitter: / onbeing
Instagram: / onbeing
Newsletter: onbeing.org/newsletter/
OUR PODCASTS
On Being with Krista Tippett: onbeing.org/series/podcast/
This Movie Changed Me: onbeing.org/series/this-movie...
Becoming Wise: onbeing.org/series/becoming-w...

[@gilliani.4328]

Beautiful interview I write through the tears streaming down my cheeks. ❤ Mary Oliver will live on through all the rest of my days and more.

[@robertnickol9598]

She was what I aspire to be.

[@carolannbassett6646]

She had a sacred relationship with the natural world through empathy and love.

[@deeheffernan6152]

everything she said hit me right in the heart. her particular form of hope and belief is so important to me. the way she said she saved her own life? yeah

[@leelee84701]

shes so gentle

[@HampsteadO]

Had my eyes closed,half asleep and heard her saying she reads Rumi every day, and tears welled up. I love Rumi and read him every day in original (one of the few flexes of being a Persian), and it suddenly hits differently that May Oliver also loves him.

[@lorrainekreimeyer7881]

I know!! It’s Amazing when we FEEL how connected we are🙃😉❤️

[@kevinharrison3265]

I love her!♥️ She shriveled, died becoming a true sea fruit. Stub my toe, on you. So briny and sweet.

[@elena_zoi]

poetry about poet. Lovelylovely

[@helenanolke3358]

Beautiful interview with many insights. ❤

[@janswimwild]

A great poet and a beautiful soul, a gift of love, rawness and vulnerability.

[@TerrillWelch]

What a wonderful addition to my Sunday morning. I am a landscape painter who is more comfortable in nature than anywhere else and befriended Mary Oliver’s poetry many years ago. Thank you so much for this very special interview with Mary about her life and poetry. What a treasured gift to us all.

[@hermesnoelthefourthway]

"When it's all over, I want to say that I was a bride married to amazement, I was the bridegroom taking the world into my arms , I don't wish to simply have visited this world'. When death comes, Mary Oliver. Thank you, Virginia from Wyoming, an English man in London would never have heard of Mary Oliver if it wasn't for you

[@kriseikenbery112]

Mary Oliver is one of the best ever!❤

[@somethingyousaid5059]

I had no idea that she had died. God what an original distinctive talent she was.

[@jdlcdn]

Appreciate her directness....reminds me of my grandmother who painted landscapes and studied scripture making notes...was a widow most of her life with 3 kids ..dad was 6 when his dad died

[@nettle_head]

I’m so thankful you had this conversation with her and shared it online

[@SueLyons1]

'I got saved by poetry and I got saved by the world' ❤ 'listening conviviably... to the world' ❤ 'attention is the beginning of devotion' ❤ 'how to be idle and blessed' ❤ 'your one wild and precious life' ❤ 'no sense of elites or difference' ❤ 'in your rage, you have sullied and murdered' 'what we are made of will make something else: there is no nothingness' ❤ 'I kept at it every day. Finally, you learn things' ❤ 'positively drenched in enthusiasm' ❤

[@ashleyyrain]

god i love her so much

[@03454309972]

What a great poet of our times!

[@adelaidemorningstar1870]

A national treasure

[@shodopoet]

Just wow I bow down 🙏🏼 she was wonderful no pretense just exquisite openness

[@naked-ruby]

well, this was euphoric! pristine love and light... 🖤

[@lil----lil]

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

[@agustinacaruso]

💚 this phrase is just perfect.

[@brokenegg4714]

I love sitting at my desk for hours and writing though.

[@duplessisart7478]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.

[@timm.8729]

❤

[@djpassey312]

I add my thanks to yours! Thank you Mary Oliver for all you have given us in your life

[@eugenemagallanes1525]

What an avenue for insight and learning! And I would never have thought Mary Oliver, Rumi and Bonobo would be in one video. Thank you!

[@paintpaper9]

Thank you 🌹🦋💛

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

Thank you.

[@NormaPM5]

Gracias Madame!

[@ricardoe.jaramillo8871]

Thank You!

[@noeleenmurray7927]

I love mary Oliver's poems 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@davidcarlson1208]

Wonderful poems and poet!

[@agustinacaruso]

Esto es una belleza de sensibilidad y sencillez 💚🙏🏼

[@adelaidemorningstar1870]

A national treasure

[@theterminaldave]

great outro music :) love some bonabo. i think this session helped me write a poem :)

[@jacobprater6041]

I love her works i am already on my fourth book of hers

[@theterminaldave]

do you have a favorite so far?

[@jacobprater6041]

@@theterminaldave why I wake early

[@alokanandadey3162]

Fine,fine interaction.

[@upstreamrose1536]

poem begins 36:05

[@iwalanialoha5968]

¿por qué habla tanta la entrevistadora? no la dejó hablar a Mary...una gran pena.

[@esmeraldavb7467]

Mary oliver

[@CaravelClerihew]

Came here for 22:49

[@suzannedaehlin515]

Do you know the piece of music behind the reading

[@leomariamandy007]

IN THE NEXT ROOM & ALWAYS I come home from the grocery store and there you sit in our, sorry, your recliner and your big, ardent smile of a greeting, pierces my soul. “Is the smile for me, Bette or is it the groceries?” “Oh, come on, the smile is for you, my love...now hurry...tell me what's in the bag?” “Ah, we do like a good list of grocery items don't we...now, let's see, there is milk, coffee, cereal...” “What kind?” “Now, Bette, would I put myself at risk of bodily harm if I didn't get your favorite cereal...” “You had to guess, didn't ya? I can see you now, pacing the aisle, looking at all those boxes of cereal, and not having a clue.” “Hey! I'm not entirely clueless...just the f'ing memory.” “I know babe, so what you choose?” “Grape Nut Flakes.” “Bingo!” “Truly?” “Would I lie...don't answer that, so what else you got in that bag.” “Pasta shells, Marinara sauce, mushrooms, broccoli, chocolate cake, and all the fixings for a healthy salad." “Great, you remember we had the Newman salad dressing.” “Yes.” “Question” “Yes, but first, let me go to the kitchen and get the milk and produce into the fridge.” “Of course.” “Oh, Bette, you didn't have much of that organic juice I bought the other day.” “I will have some later.” “Don't forget.” “I won't...anyway, that's your department, 'where did I put my keys', John.” “Ha, ha, very funny.” “I thought so, now that question.” “Oh, I'm sorry, yes, Bette.” “Can I have dessert before dinner?” “Now, I don't know about that, that's not the way you been raised.” “But things are different, now, Dad.” “You mean...” “Of course, I mean, John!” “Jeez, Bette, I hear you. I'm just in the next room, you know.” “Sorry.” “Come to think of it, Bette, I can't think of anything better than a slice of chocolate cake and a cup or glass of...” “Milk, please, a glass of milk...and, by the way, that organic milk tastes real good.” “Yes. I'm glad we started going more organic, especially now, since you...” “What do you want to do tonight, John, after dinner?” “I don't know sweetheart...whatever you'd like.” “Oh, boy, John...wrong answer.” “Scrabble again, Bette?” “Yup, third night in a row and loving it...you four-letter word loser, you.” “Ah gee, Bette, don't pick on me.” “Hey, how miserable the last months be if I can't pick on thee.” “I am honored, my rhyming Bette. And, speaking of rhyme, are you enjoying Mary Oliver?” “I am, yes, and thank you for the book. She is a wonderful Poet.” “I knew you were familiar with her and liked her so I checked the bookcase, didn't see that volume, and, voila.” “It is a nice edition, John. I do have an earlier one but it's tucked away and it has been a while since I read it so...this is perfect.” “You will still hold on to the earlier edition, won't ya?” “Oh, sure, John.” “Good. I imagine you made comments in the margins like you do with books you really appreciate.” “For sure. And, love of my life, do you know what I did?” “Oh, what you do now?” “Hey.” “No, I mean...please tell me.” “I wrote a poem for you and it's in an envelope, hidden away.” “Oh, love, I can't wait to read it, I will go find it...we'll play the “Hotter/Colder” search game....ready when you are.” “Let it be, hon...can you wait, till...” “I can if that be your wish, Bette.” “It is.” “And you won't forget to leave me a note as to where, before...” “Yes, my loveable, lousy scrabble player...and where is my milk and chocolate cake?” *

[@timbaer65]

Thank you. I just lost my wife, and it's nice to hear the banter.

[@arthrajput8219]

Gndu

[@arthrajput8219]

Oolodi

[@paulaandreabernal9984]

❤

[@kdixuebw7884bfb]

❤