Wild Geese – Mary Oliver

The first thing that struck me when I read the poem was the (hidden) contradiction. On one hand, she hints to our insignificance ‘in the bigger picture’ by saying that the world goes on while we are busy moaning over our problems and sorrows; and on the other, she reestablishes this significance by saying that everyone has his/her own part to play, and hence contradicts her previous statement.

She starts her poem with a strong statement - ‘You don’t have to be good’ – which instantly relieves the reader but at the same time warns him/her about the poet’s unconventional approach. The whole idea of ‘being good’ or ‘being idealistic’ is blown off in the very beginning. She says you don’t have to do something that you don’t want to do, just because it is the ‘most accepted’ way. She tells us to love what we do and insists on doing what we love. She suggests certain wisdom in following one's affections.

The poet gives a personal touch to the poem when she tells us to share our sorrows with her pointing to the fact that sharing your sorrows just helps you cope with them better. But as the reader is getting a feeling of her concern, she says that the world moves on while you are crying over your sorrows. She very bluntly states that the world may not wait for you and just go on without even noticing your despair.

‘Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination’

She tries to comfort the readers by saying that no matter how lonely you are, you have the constant company of your imagination and the world, too, offers itself to it and announces your place in this family of things.