Mary Oliver鈥檚 Blue Horses is also rooted in the natural world. Yet where Wright sees impermanence, Oliver finds in nature a deep sense of belonging that counters the frenzied, human-made world. Hummingbirds, foxes, and wild roses are much-loved companions. Even a stinging wasp helps the poet feel alive.
The voice in these pages is familiar and honest as Oliver navigates new surroundings, new technology, and changes in her personal life. Although she can鈥檛 master a cellphone, for example, Oliver points out that she can make a fire. Likewise, in her first yoga class, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet admits that she can鈥檛 stretch very far, but she can
be a lotus in the pond
opening slowly, and very slowly rising.
The book, while mindful, has a breezy tone throughout. Oliver considers God, angels, and loneliness with inviting directness, not melancholy. At times, she sounds delightfully quirky or feisty as she recalls a life lesson or ponders whether stones can say 鈥渉ello.鈥�
