In today’s chaotic world, so many of us feel the weight of society’s pressures. We always wonder if we are enough and contemplate our purpose here on earth. We stress about work; are we making enough money? Are we making a difference? We worry about our family; Am I a good enough parent? Am I raising my children to be good? There is also the religious piece; Am I good in God’s eyes? These worries can cause feelings of despair and loneliness. Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese” acknowledges this innate human struggle and shares wisdom to free us from these burdens. When we look to nature and live like the wild geese, never questioning our belonging and value in this world, we will seek what we are looking for. “Wild Geese” offers captivating lines, beautiful natural imagery, and subtle yet powerful use of poetic techniques. With a quick read, this poem is beautiful, but we gain a better appreciation for one of Oliver’s finest works with analysis.
Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Summary of “Wild Geese”, Mary Oliver
“Wild Geese” offers the reader wisdom in a gentle, peaceful way. Oliver acknowledges our (human) inclination to find purpose and meaning, yet never quite feeling at peace with ourselves, always experiencing feelings of displacement. She tells the reader that when you feel despair or feelings of being not enough, look to nature and look to the wild geese. Her powerful use of the word “you” in the first line makes the poem feel as though she is offering this advice to you personally. It’s as though Oliver is acknowledging all of society’s demands and the heavyweight this has placed on your shoulders. She is telling you not to worry, not to let this weight keep you down, it’s okay to not be good. She reminds the reader, you are where you belong; know this with the same certainty as the wild geese. Look to nature, your home.
Analysis of “Wild Geese”, Mary Oliver
“Wild Geese” a lyric poem appealing to the reader’s emotions. It is written in simple, free verse consisting of eighteen lines and a single stanza. There is no rhyming scheme, and reads more like a beautifully written letter, offering advice to a friend, than a traditional poem. Alliteration, repetition, and anaphora are a few of the poetic techniques used in “Wild Geese”, seen with “You do not have to” in lines one and two and “Meanwhile” in lines seven, eight, and twelve. Although this poem does not have a great deal of complexity in structure, her message is powerful and worthy of a more in-depth analysis.
A line by line analysis of “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver provides us with a greater appreciation for the work.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
With the first word, Oliver speaks directly to the reader and grabs their attention. Through the following lines, she offers advice; guidance on how to live your life. We must consider what it means to be good. There are so many aspects of our human lives that we define as either good or bad; good child, good parent, etc. There is also the idea that if we are good, we will get into heaven. We can see some religious subtext here when she says, “You do not have to walk on your knees / for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.” She is telling the reader not to burden themselves with the thought of being good and not to repent through punishment if believed to be not good.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
In lines 4 and 5, she reminds us that we are human, and to be a human, means we are an animal. And just like every other animal, we should do what we want, fulfill our animal instincts. On a surface level, one might read this as disregarding all mores and living a hedonistic life, but as we read through the poem, we see that is not the case. She is suggesting we return to nature and not let societal pressures guide us. Considering sexuality, one could feel their sexuality wasn’t good as defined by their church. However, Oliver tells us you don’t need to be good in their eyes; instead, follow nature and let yourself love what you love.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
Are moving across the landscapes,
Over the prairies and the deep trees,
The mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Oliver tells the reader that no matter what is happening in your life, the world continues to rotate. She so eloquently conjures up the beauty and resiliency of the earth. We face shared struggles in our human existence, like worrying about paying the bills, finishing a project at work or school, or even worries about fitting in with a particular clique. In the natural world, are these real threats? When we look outside ourselves, we see the sun will continue to rise and set. The natural world will exist in the same way, despite our troubles. When Oliver references the wild geese, she tells us to be more like them. They are sure of their place and purpose; they are returning home, perhaps after winter migration, or possibly returning home to nature.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things
Throughout the poem, Oliver is acknowledging the human struggle, feelings of loneliness, and a lack of belonging or purpose. In lines 14 to 18, Oliver offers reassurance and advice. When you feel alone, walk outside and look at nature. The world calls to us, and it can be both harsh and exciting, just as the wild geese. We should not feel lonely as we are a part of the natural world, and we belong in the family of nature.
Themes in “Wild Geese”, Mary Oliver
The theme of nature is evident. References to the natural world are present throughout the poem. At the time of its release, Oliver received both critique and praise as a woman using nature as such a prominent theme in this poem, which was often present in her work. Oliver also focuses on the theme of humankind or the human experience. Our innate feelings of not belonging and loneliness. She beautifully draws comparisons between the natural world and the one we often experience in our human existence. Today, we have become burdened with pressures, stress, and in many ways, fell out of touch with our natural, animal instincts. Like a caged goose, we are unsettled. When we act as free as the wild geese, we will rejoin our natural family and feel peace.
Background of “Wild Geese”, Mary Oliver
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver was first published in 1986 with her collection of poems entitled “Dream Works”. Considering the historical context of the poem, the 1980s saw a move towards conservatism. Values shifted from focusing on social justice to more individual and material gain. At the time, “Wild Geese” offered wisdom to those struggling with this shift in values. Despite being written over 30 years ago, Oliver’s message is timely. As the global community navigates this pandemic, feelings of despair and loneliness are prevalent. We can once again read “Wild Geese” and look to nature.
Arguably one of Mary Oliver’s most famous poems, “Wild Geese” is a poem that has transcended nearly four decades and is still able to captivate the reader with her natural references, seductive yet straightforward language, and lyrical voice.
If you enjoyed “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver, you might also enjoy “In a Café” by Gary Johnson.