Quotes by Mary Oliver

This is what I have. The dull hangover of waiting, the blush of my heart on the damp grass,the flower-faced moon. A gull broods on the shore where a moment ago there were two. Softly my right hand fondles my left hand as though it were you.

All night my heart makes its wayhowever it can over the rough groundof uncertainties, but only until nightmeets and then is overwhelmed bymorning, the light deepening, thewind easing and just waiting, as Itoo wait (and when have I ever beendisappointed?) for redbird to sing

Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules

Why should I have been surprised?Hunters walk the forestwithout a sound.The hunter, strapped to his rifle,the fox on his feet of silk,the serpent on his empire of muscles—all move in a stillness,hungry, careful, intent.Just as the cancerentered the forest of my body,without a sound.

Because of the dogs joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born.

To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.

We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I stayed where I was happy. I spent a great deal of time in my younger years just writing and reading, walking around the woods in Ohio, where I grew up.

We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I stayed where I was happy.

Its very important to write things down instantly, or you can lose the way you were thinking out a line. I have a rule that if I wake up at 3 in the morning and think of something, I write it down.

Animals praise a good day, a good hunt. They praise rain if theyre thirsty. Thats prayer. They dont live an unconscious life, they simply have no language to talk about these things. But they are grateful for the good things that come along.

When its over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

Poetry isnt a profession, its a way of life. Its an empty basket; you put your life into it and make something out of that.

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

One thing I do know is that poetry, to be understood, must be clear.

People want poetry. They need poetry. They get it. They dont want fancy work.

Poetry is meant to be heard.

“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happened better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb. (Dont Hesitate)”

“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.”