from | to
born on
born in
birth name
nickname | also known as
citizen of
daughter of
sister of
grew up in | lives in
educated at | studied with
loved studying
married to | partner of | separated from | divorced from
mother of
grandmother of
advocate for | influenced by | worked alongside
in her spare time
tweets
collapse bio bits"When it's over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don't want to end up simply having visited this world."
When Death Comes | 1992
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
new and selected poems | january 1992
"The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us. Our battles with our habits speak of dreams yet to become real."
Long Life: Essays and Other Writings | march 2005
"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."
Red Bird: Poems | january 2009
"Be prepared. A dog is adorable and noble. A dog is a true and loving friend. A dog is also a hedonist."
Dog Songs | august 2013
"Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift."
Dog Songs | august 2013
"I know, you never intended to be in this world. But you're in it all the same. So why not get started immediately. I mean, belonging to it. There is so much to admire, to weep over."
Blue Horses: Poems | october 2014
for further reading about Mary Oliver:
curated with care by Pauline Weger
book of poetry | New and Selected Poems | 1992
New and Selected Poems infusing some of Mary's best work with her newer poetic musings.
Beacon Press