Felicity: Poems (original 2016; edição 2015)

What a lovely and refreshing collection of poems. Mary Oliver works vivid images into philosophical questions to create a thoughtful and uplifting work of art. ( )

This is Mary Oliver's newest collection, but not my favorite. It feels cursory, the poems are shorter and seem to lack some of the depth and introspection her other work provides. In part homage to Rumi, it still taps into nature as the subject for contemplation and source of spiritual truths, but the love poems included here seem like a departure to me. They are almost giddy -- the type of expression when love is new and intoxicating -- maybe her point is love should always be that way....but it didn't seem (to me) to carry the same wisdom I've come to expect. There are still definitely some winners here - my favorite (which I should commit to memory) is Storage about what we acquire and why, the pointlessness of it ("not a single twinge of heart") and the freedom of letting go. ("For the birds who own nothing -- the reason they can fly.") Worth a look if you are a fan. ( )

In a startling change of direction, Mary Oliver writes a collection of intellectual poetry using urban, industrial metaphors and experimental language.

No, just kidding. This book is yet another lovely continuation of her previous work in natural imagery, simple language, and the encouragement of gratitude, appreciation of beauty, and oneness with the natural world. It also contains a pretty significant chunk of love poetry. Mary Oliver fans will be satisfied. ( )

For me this volume didn't reach the sublime heights of Oliver at her best, but it did have the virtue of unfolding a cycle of love poems, which as far I as know is unique in Oliver's ouvre. Loved "The World I Live In," esp. the final stanza: "You wouldn't believe what once or / twice I have seen. I'll just / tell you this: / only if there are angels in your head will you / ever, possibly, see one." ( )

This is the first book of poems I've read that made me want to read more when I finished. I love Mary Oliver's style and her poems really speak to me. I picked this up to read outside my usual comfort zone, and I'm glad I did. ( )