Dream Work by Mary Oliver

Dream Work, a collection of forty-five poems, follows both chronologically and logically Mary Oliver's American Primitive, which won her the Pulitzer Prize for the finest book of poetry published in 1983 by an American poet. The depth and diversity of perceptual awareness—so steadfast and radiant in American Primitive—continue in Dream Work. She has turned her attention in these poems to the solitary and difficult labors of the spirit—to accepting the truth about one's personal world, and to valuing the triumphs while transcending the failures of human relationships. Whether by way of inheritance—as in her poem about the Holocaust—or through a painful glimpse into the present—as in "Acid," a poem about an injured boy begging in the streets of Indonesia—the events and tendencies of history take on a new importance here. More deeply than in her previous volumes, the sensibility behind these poems has merged with the world. Mary Oliver's willingness to be joyful continues, deepened by self-awareness, by experience, and by choice.

It has all the theatrics and ego of poetry that I loathe, but there were actually a few poems that I really enjoyed.

I don't know how much of this I understood the way it ought to be understood. But what I interpreted was beautiful.

There was a lot of good poems in here. Some I didn't understand - poetry is a bit annoying to comprehend sometimes. I think the structure of a lot of it threw me off a bit but ykw it's a unique writing style and it works with the flow of the poems

Oh, you never sawsuch a good leafy place, andeverything was fine, my dog and the fawndid a little dance,they didn't get serious.Then the fawn clambered away through the leavesand my gentle dog followed me away.

Hell yes!! This collection is so human. It's cruel, regretful, and loving. I've fallen in love with Mary Oliver, and I do have to thank Shawn McComb for that. I think it was through one of his update videos where he raved about this exact collection of hers, that I decided to pick Dream Work up. I'm SO glad I did. The excerpted section above is from one of the standout poems, entitled: “1945-1985: POEM FOR THE ANNIVERSARY.” It's been a semi-long time since I've felt inspired enough to write analysis on a poem; I usually only do so for poems that impact me heavily. I'm so happy to feel that same inspiration flowing now, since it's the only way I feel like I can give back to these wonderful authors. Ugh that poem was just so beautiful it's taking up my entire brain. I will definitely be coming back to it often.

Laterthe doe came wandering back in the twilight.She stepped through the leaves. She hesitated,sniffing the air.Then she knew everything.The forest grew dark.She nuzzled her child wildly.