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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Soooo cute <3 Simple poems about the life of a dog and also what it's like to be an owner of a dog. The last text was definitely heartwarming and very good writing - I underlined many lines from it.
"But I want to extol not the sweetness nor the placidity of the dog, but the wilderness out of which he cannot step entirely, and from which we benefit... remind us the pleasures of the body with its graceful physicality, and the acuity and rapture of the senses, and the beauty of forest and ocean and rain and our own breath... Only unleashed dogs can do that. They are a kind of poetry themselves when they are devoted not only to us but to the wet night, to the moon and the rabbit-smell in the grass and their own bodies leaping forward...It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born."
"But I want to extol not the sweetness nor the placidity of the dog, but the wilderness out of which he cannot step entirely, and from which we benefit... remind us the pleasures of the body with its graceful physicality, and the acuity and rapture of the senses, and the beauty of forest and ocean and rain and our own breath... Only unleashed dogs can do that. They are a kind of poetry themselves when they are devoted not only to us but to the wet night, to the moon and the rabbit-smell in the grass and their own bodies leaping forward...It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born."
"But I want to extol not the sweetness nor the placidity of the dog, but the wilderness out of which he cannot step entirely, and from which we benefit. For wilderness is our first home too, and in our wild ride into modernity with all its concerns and problems we need also all the good attachments to that origin that we can keep or restore" 117
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
A perfect collection that is about so much more than dogs. If it wasn't a cliche, I'd say I laughed, I cried, I learned something about myself... but I did. Love Mary Oliver...
Great to hear Mary Oliver herself read this and the voiced nuances of the relationships with her pups. Some poems are upbeat, others heart wrenching, all connect you to the experience of loving or being a pup.
I thought this was going to be a tear-jerker. It's about dogs, it's poetry, and it's Mary Oliver. And of course, in places, it is. But it's also wonderful and joyful and a celebration. A beautiful book that I now suddenly need to give to all the dog people in my life.
my favorite poem or piece was ropes i think. i just found myself smiling a little smile through it. the last line “or maybe its about the wonderful things that may happen if you break the ropes that are holding you”
i’m going to show this book to my niece hopefully she smiles too!
just a sweet sweet book
i’m going to show this book to my niece hopefully she smiles too!
just a sweet sweet book
“Every time you wake up and love your life and the world, you're praying, my dear boy. I'm sure of it.”
Facebook Algorithm began putting Mary Oliver’s poems in my way a few months ago. I have loved each one and shared more than a few. I wanted to read and know more of her work. My library branch didn’t have any of her books but I requested them from other branches. This was first to arrive. I am a life long dog lover. The older I get the more I have treasured each dog I’ve lived with. It was devastating in 2022 when I lost my dog of 14 years, Starbuck, a heeler mix, followed shockingly 6 months later by the sudden death of my 18 month old Golden Doodle, Marty, to a sudden death heart attack. My current companions are a rescued 90lb 3 yr old shepherd/retriever mix and a rehomed 10 yo 9lb Jack Russell. I loved Mary’s reflections on the dogs she shared her life with and treasured the recollections it brought to my heart of those I have been blessed to love.