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Why I Wake Early: New Poems Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 979 ratings

The forty-seven new works in this volume include poems on crickets, toads, trout lilies, black snakes, goldenrod, bears, greeting the morning, watching the deer, and, finally, lingering in happiness. Each poem is imbued with the extraordinary perceptions of a poet who considers the everyday in our lives and the natural world around us and finds a multitude of reasons to wake early.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Mary Oliver's poetry:

'These are life enhancing and redemptive poems that coax the sublime from the subliminal.' --Sally Connolly,
Poetry

'Mary Oliver's poems are natural growths out of a loam of perception and feeling, and instinctive skill with language makes them seem effortless. Reading them is a sensual delight.' --May Swenson

'The gift of Oliver's poetry is that she communicates the beauty she finds in the world and makes it unforgettable.’ -
Miami Herald

About the Author

A private person by nature, Mary Oliver (1935–2019) gave very few interviews over the years. Instead, she preferred to let her work speak for itself. And speak it has, for the past five decades, to countless readers. The New York Times recently acknowledged Mary Oliver as “far and away, this country’s best-selling poet.” Born in a small town in Ohio, Oliver published her first book of poetry in 1963 at the age of 28; No Voyage and Other Poems, originally printed in the UK by Dent Press, was reissued in the United States in 1965 by Houghton Mifflin. Oliver has since published twenty books of poetry and six books of prose. As a young woman, Oliver studied at Ohio State University and Vassar College, but took no degree. She lived for several years at the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay in upper New York state, companion to the poet’s sister Norma Millay. It was there, in the late ’50s, that she met photographer Molly Malone Cook. For more than forty years, Cook and Oliver made their home together, largely in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where they lived until Cook’s death in 2005. Over the course of her long and illustrious career, Oliver has received numerous awards. Her fourth book, American Primitive, won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1984. She has also received the Shelley Memorial Award; a Guggenheim Fellowship; an American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Achievement Award; the Christopher Award and the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award for House of Light; the National Book Award for New and Selected Poems; a Lannan Foundation Literary Award; and the New England Booksellers Association Award for Literary Excellence. Oliver’s essays have appeared in Best American Essays 1996, 1998, 2001; the Anchor Essay Annual 1998, as well as Orion, Onearth and other periodicals. Oliver was editor of Best American Essays 2009. Oliver’s books on the craft of poetry, A Poetry Handbook and Rules for the Dance, are used widely in writing programs. She is an acclaimed reader and has read in practically every state as well as other countries. She has led workshops at various colleges and universities, and held residencies at Case Western Reserve University, Bucknell University, University of Cincinnati, and Sweet Briar College. From 1995, for five years, she held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College. She has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from The Art Institute of Boston (1998), Dartmouth College (2007) and Tufts University (2008).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001KOTYXO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press (April 15, 2004)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2004
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1832 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 100 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 979 ratings

About the author

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Mary Oliver
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A private person by nature, Mary Oliver has given very few interviews over the years. Instead, she prefers to let her work speak for itself. And speak it has, for the past five decades, to countless readers. The New York Times recently acknowledged Mary Oliver as "far and away, this country's best-selling poet." Born in a small town in Ohio, Oliver published her first book of poetry in 1963 at the age of 28; No Voyage and Other Poems, originally printed in the UK by Dent Press, was reissued in the United States in 1965 by Houghton Mifflin. Oliver has since published many works of poetry and prose. As a young woman, Oliver studied at Ohio State University and Vassar College, but took no degree. She lived for several years at the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay in upper New York state, companion to the poet's sister Norma Millay. It was there, in the late '50s, that she met photographer Molly Malone Cook. For more than forty years, Cook and Oliver made their home together, largely in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where they lived until Cook's death in 2005. Over the course of her long and illustrious career, Oliver has received numerous awards. Her fourth book, American Primitive, won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1984. She has also received the Shelley Memorial Award; a Guggenheim Fellowship; an American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Achievement Award; the Christopher Award and the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award for House of Light; the National Book Award for New and Selected Poems; a Lannan Foundation Literary Award; and the New England Booksellers Association Award for Literary Excellence. Oliver's essays have appeared in Best American Essays 1996, 1998, 2001; the Anchor Essay Annual 1998, as well as Orion, Onearth and other periodicals. Oliver was editor of Best American Essays 2009. Oliver's books on the craft of poetry, A Poetry Handbook and Rules for the Dance, are used widely in writing programs. She is an acclaimed reader and has read in practically every state as well as other countries. She has led workshops at various colleges and universities, and held residencies at Case Western Reserve University, Bucknell University, University of Cincinnati, and Sweet Briar College. From 1995, for five years, she held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College. She has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from The Art Institute of Boston (1998), Dartmouth College (2007) and Tufts University (2008). Oliver currently lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the inspiration for much of her work.

Photo Credit: Rachel Giese Brown, 2009.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
979 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the poetry in the book thought-provoking and beautiful. They appreciate the author's clear writing style and eye for subtle details. The poems transport readers to a long-forgotten world with their imagery and tasteful descriptions. The pacing is described as serene and thoughtful, reminding customers of what truly matters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

65 customers mention "Poetry"65 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the poetry in this book. They find the author's writing powerful and gentle, capturing her life experience. Many readers consider her one of their favorite contemporary poets. The poems quietly and eloquently praise the natural world.

"Anything Mary Oliver is Wonderful!" Read more

"...place to start if you want to understand poetry as the poems are easy to understand for any laymen while still exhibiting complexity for those that..." Read more

"...I purchased two copies of this wonderful book of poetry, one after the other, both of which were identified as new...." Read more

"...and read through its contents, I discovered many poems and lines that speak to a reader who is looking for insight and a sense of understanding of..." Read more

44 customers mention "Thought provoking"44 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and enjoyable. They appreciate the author's keen observations about life that remind them of what really matters. The concepts resonate with them, and the book takes readers into the natural world to nourished their souls as well as minds.

"...I would consider this and excellent place to start if you want to understand poetry as the poems are easy to understand for any laymen while still..." Read more

"...Vivid colors and dusky colors. She awakens my soul as I am transported to a world of delight." Read more

"...-changing but were gentle reminders to pause to notice and appreciate the little things...." Read more

"...Mary Oliver shares her thoughts, which at times are very profound, with clarity and shows a deep understanding of what it is to be human...." Read more

24 customers mention "Beauty"24 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's beauty. They find the imagery simple and engaging, with vibrant colors that resonate with them. The poetry invokes images that they can identify with, making it a treasure for readers.

"Mary Oliver paints canvases with her palette of words. Vivid colors and dusky colors. She awakens my soul as I am transported to a world of delight." Read more

"I love how Mary sees life in everything. The beauty in all of it...." Read more

"...She reminds me of that which has essential truth, beauty. Deep thanks to you, Mary, for sharing this sacredness with us...." Read more

"...This book is small but it is a treasure. Anyone who loves poetry about nature will love this book...." Read more

8 customers mention "Clarity"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's clarity and natural observation. They find it an easy read with an eye for subtle details and a command of language that transports them to a long-forgotten world.

"...Mary Oliver shares her thoughts, which at times are very profound, with clarity and shows a deep understanding of what it is to be human...." Read more

"Mary Oliver has an eye for subtle detail and the ability to capture an entire scene in just a few words." Read more

"...As always, her poetry is accessible and has a sense of clarity that contemporary poetry so often lacks...." Read more

"Oliver's command of language and its imagery transports the reader to a long forgotten and yet a place so near one only needs to look inside oneself...." Read more

5 customers mention "Taste"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They describe it as a favorite cup of tea and good food.

"...Use your senses: See what she depicts: Smell the smells, Taste what she presents, Feel what you encounter as you enter her world of images..." Read more

"...Oliver's poetry is such a deep treat - like sitting down with a favorite cup of tea & something good to eat in the midst of a busy day...." Read more

"...A goodly meal! I continue to enjoy her insights." Read more

"Good tea..." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing. They find the poems thoughtful and thought-provoking, with a focus on nature. The author writes about quiet forest paths, seashores, and summer nights filled with stars.

"...Her poems quietly and eloquently sing the praises of our natural world, in the dwindling places it can still be found." Read more

"Mary Oliver's poetry in Why I Wake Early is serene, thoughtful and thought-provoking...." Read more

"...It's easy to listen to the media and think you're the only sane person left... but I see others love her too.. Yay!" Read more

"...Her poems take me to places I remember from childhood. Quiet forest paths, the seashore, a summer night filled with stars...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024
    Anything Mary Oliver is Wonderful!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2020
    I love Mary Oliver and this was the first book by her that I ever read. Her ability to convey emotion so clearly into words is amazing. This particular set of poems all focus on the beauty that surrounds us each day. I would consider this and excellent place to start if you want to understand poetry as the poems are easy to understand for any laymen while still exhibiting complexity for those that wish to dive deeper.

    I would recommend this poetry for those that are looking for something gentle and soothing and uplifting. If you want poems that are emotionally charged or angry, this is not the book of poems for you.
    39 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2022
    Mary Oliver paints canvases with her palette of words. Vivid colors and dusky colors. She awakens my soul as I am transported to a world of delight.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2024
    There were so many favorites, I had put post-its on most of the book.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
    Mary Oliver’s poems make me want to quit all my responsibilities and live in the woods where I can walk out of my door and see more than a concrete jungle.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
    Don't "study" her style or structure.
    Do some restful breathing before you read.....
    Try only one poem a day.
    Use your senses: See what she depicts:
    Smell the smells, Taste what she presents, Feel what you encounter as you enter her world of images and
    Hear the images she suggests
    Enjoy her world!
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020
    This book is my first introduction to Mary Oliver. I'm a morning person and I love nature, so this collection of poems was my selection for hosting book club. None of the poems were deep or life-changing but were gentle reminders to pause to notice and appreciate the little things. In addition, the poems helped remind me to find joy in the smallest tasks (refreshing a bouquet of flowers) or small items (an arrowhead or a busy insect). I feel like I should try my hand at writing a poem about unloading the dishwasher - as that is a task I currently avoid!! Maybe I would learn to like unloading the dishwasher. :)
    24 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2018
    I typically rise early, typically at 5:00 AM. I start my day in the right direction by reading one of her poems. Reading her sets my priorities right at the beginning of the day. It's a shame she was never appointed Poet Laurette. One nice thing about Oliver's poems is that they are bite size. They don't go on for page after page before you get to the punch line. You get the point fast but not without some subtlety. Get this book, and read as it is meant to be read You will not be disappointed. You will fall in love with Oliver as I have.
    66 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mr. S. Pratt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2024
    What a beautiful book! What lovely poetry! Mary Oliver is a real find for me. Just love her poetry.
  • Volpeblu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nous Somme’s Nature
    Reviewed in France on July 20, 2023
    Culture
  • Max
    5.0 out of 5 stars Luminous
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2020
    Beautiful, uplifting, shining with soft light.
  • Odinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in India on October 24, 2021
    Good ..
  • Su M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short Mary Oliver poems
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2021
    I love Mary Oliver's poems and this book is definitely a winner. It has a lot of beautiful poems in it.

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