Thursday, April 7, 2022

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

A Thousand Mornings (2012) is a short volume of poetry by Mary Oliver. Her poems reflect on daily observations of the natural world, existence, and humanity.

Among my favorites in the volume is her poem "The Gardener."

Oliver writes,

"Have I lived enough?
Have I loved enough?" 

She continues,

"Actually, I probably think too much."

She concludes, by observing a gardener tending to the roses, his children.

I also enjoyed "Poem of the One World" where Oliver begins by observing a floating white heron. In "Lines Written in the Days of Growing Darkness," she reflects on the year's end. In "Green, Green is My Sister's House," Oliver writes of the wildness of spring.

In "The Moth, the Mountains, the Rivers," Oliver suggests that the reader spend worthwhile time with strange questions about nature so "that your spirit grown in curiosity, that your life be richer than it is."

Oliver has a beautiful way of reminding us to slow down, to observe our surroundings, and to find meaning in our everyday observations.


Read another review of interest:

Check out my review of Mary Oliver's Felicity.


An interview with Mary Oliver:

Listen to a 2012 interview with Mary Oliver about A Thousand Mornings at NPR. Oliver reads from her book. She also speaks about writing in the morning to set up her day and about her love of words and the mechanics of poetry.


Purchase and read books by Mary Oliver:

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver Felicity by Mary Oliver American Primative by Mary Oliver Winter Hours by Mary Oliver


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Saturday, March 26, 2022

More Photos of Cherry Trees in Bloom

Here are a few more pretty photos of the blooming cherry trees on the waterfront in Portland, Oregon.

Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon

Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon

Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon

Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon

Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon



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Monday, March 21, 2022

Cherry Blossoms on the Waterfront

In Portland, the prettiest time of the year to walk on the waterfront is when the cherry blossoms are blooming in March or April. The trees are gorgeous when they're in bloom.

I wish the city would plant a few new trees each year and eventually cover the entire stretch of the waterfront park. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Photograph of cherry blossoms by the Steel Bridge in Portland, Oregon.

Cherry blossoms on the waterfront in Portland, Oregon.

Cherry blossoms on the waterfront in Portland, Oregon.

Cherry blossoms on the waterfront in Portland, Oregon.



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Friday, March 4, 2022

Trees and Hellebore

Here are a couple of photos from my recent walks around Portland, Oregon.

The first was taken on a misty day in Forest Park.

Photo of a Forest in Portland Oregon

This second photo of hellebore was taken during a walk near my home.

photograph of Hellebore Flower



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Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Sunflower

Pen and Ink Drawing of a Sunflower by Ingrid Lobo


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Tuesday, February 22, 2022

In the Forest

A couple photos taken along the Macleay trails in Forest Park.

Photo of trees

Photo of a creek running through a forest


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