How I Go to the Woods

Mary Oliver 1935 (Maple Heights, OH) – 2019 (Hobe Sound, FL)



Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and
therefore
unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the
catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can
sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.

About this poem

reverence and stillness

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Submitted by JokerGem on February 07, 2023

Modified on May 03, 2023

35 sec read
1,283

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXA XBCB XXBXX CX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 564
Words 117
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 5, 2

Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver was an award-winning poet with fans throughout the world. In addition to her numerous literary prizes, as noted by New York Times, Oliver was, "far and away, this country's best-selling poet." more…

All Mary Oliver poems | Mary Oliver Books

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    "How I Go to the Woods" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/150127/how-i-go-to-the-woods>.

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