Mary Oliver Poem 5: Entering The Kingdom

The poem Entering The Kingdom was appealing to me because of the title of the poem. A kingdom is something of value, respect, and treasure. Mary Oliver treats nature as her kingdom. I initially thought this poem would be about interacting with a dangerous animal, like a lion or bear. Still, the idea of a kingdom of crows sparked some interest because I have seen hundreds swarm together in movies and real life. Crows typically represent sadness or disappointing emotions, and I thought this poem captured these ideas well…but with a twist.

Crows have the reputation of a scary bird as they are all black and look almost menacing. Therefore, I liked how Mary Oliver swapped the perspectives and displayed the crow’s fear of her. She writes the crows thinking, “Possibly dangerous”. I think she is trying to convey to her audience that other animals, like birds, have an analytical ability and fear us. The tense tone in the poem contradicted many of her other poems. Humans are painted in a hostile and alarming sense. We are what nature is scared of. This notion makes sense as humans have ultimately negatively impacted the environment with fossil fuels, extreme waste, and overpopulation, to name a few. 

My favorite quote from this poem is, “To learn something by doing nothing.” I empathize with this quote because nature can sometimes entail doing nothing to gain knowledge. I think about my experiences in nature and how sometimes I would sit on a bench, look at the environment around me, and learn so much. I believe using nature as a source of education can benefit us in understanding our world and our surroundings. The author wants us, as a collective, to do nothing with nature so we can learn as a society. Oliver continues to express that the crows “…know me for I am…No eater of leaves.” I think this quote is to show that the crows do fear humans because of the damage we have done. The crows view us as outsiders of nature, an entity that doesn’t belong…

Overall, the poem displays a perspective that humans are so far removed from nature that we never are entirely a part of the “kingdom” that nature is…

Mary Oliver Poem 4: Backyard

The poem Backyard by Mary Oliver struck me because the poem personally reminded me of compost gardening when I was in middle school. Our school aimed to build a small compost garden outside one of the classroom windows. We spent so much time and effort to bring compost items like bananas, bundles of grass, and other fruit waste after school. After we placed our items in the soil, we manually turned the soil, generating heat and bacteria to mix the soil's nutrients. After days and weeks of no growth, we spotted little buds of flowers that finally began to grow. The school's first compost garden was successful, and I was proud to be a part of the community effort.

Mary Oliver brought that special memory back for me as she described a section in her backyard having "dead stuff… without direction management supervision". Her dislike for the mess turns out to be a sanctuary for the birds, as the birds love to pick blackberries from this pile of dirt. Mary Oliver alludes to composting as an area in her backyard that was described as ugly but turned into something beautiful and loved by other animals. Backyard is to the point with the reader's intention to reflect on a time when they contributed to creating something meaningful. I think of this poem through activities like thrifting, upcycling, and composting because these activities benefit nature and our sense of creativity and individuality. 

There's a grand takeaway from this poem regarding the mission to find the beauty in everything life gives us. When contributing to my school's compost garden, I was skeptical of the whole process and ashamed of how terrible the garden smelt. However, after a few weeks, the compost turned into an impressive garden with vegetation and plants symbolizing determination. I love that Oliver challenges us to appreciate the little things and find a positive outlook on nature and life. 

Journal 8: Carswell Joint Reserve Base: Nature Walk

 

My parents and I had lunch along the Trinity River while visiting Carswell Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. Since my father has retired from the Navy, we often shop in the commissary and see the exchange for some tax-free deals. However, we have just walked along the Trinity River to enjoy the outside nature. :)

We decided to eat lunch at the little hut and benches displayed in the photo to talk and relax for an hour during our day. The wooden hut with sights of peeling signifies that this area along the water is dated with lots of history. Nature has a way of initiating a feeling of preservance. While sitting there, I gazed into the water and spotted some birds and turtles. I couldn't spot any fish because the water seemed dirty with dirt, impacting the view of what could be spotted in the water.  

I enjoyed watching the waves of the river. The breeze made these waves flow from one end of the river to the other. The sunlight's reflection made the water glitter. I was at peace while watching the waves as they signaled me to be present at the moment and wash my worries away. Watching waves, whether in a lake, river, or ocean, grants meditation for my mind. The sounds of the water present a calming feeling like nothing else. With midterms and projects due quickly, I valued this time with my parents as time stood still.  

Furthermore, while walking, I spotted many dragonflies. There was one, black and blue, that I really thought was following me. I also noticed many dragonflies at the Fort Worth Nature Center, so I can infer that dragonflies are widespread in Fort Worth. I was sad to see the absence of other animals as the water seemed almost empty. Many trees were so tall that they symbolized how old JRB Carswell is. I love seeing tall trees because they remind me of how some forms of life can live decades longer than we humans can. The trees were super green and healthy. Grasses align in the river's waterfront with ants, beetles, and crickets. This area is urbanized, with a base suitable for humans. Hence, the presence of natural animals and plant life is minimal.  

This experience of eating lunch and walking along the Trinity River at JRB reminded me of the last sections of Edward Abbey. The Selections from the Journals had one segment published on March 7, 1977 – Aztec Peak Fire Lookout, Arizona had a quote that presently resonated with me. The quote, "Absolutely absorbed in his fears- heart trouble." With context, this quote describes how a man passes away from a stroke, which Abbey perceives as a "miserable way to end your life –in fear." College exams, future plans, and life balance are a few stressors many of us college students face that can sometimes trigger unresolved fear. Knowing that Abbey lived a free-spirited and open life, I take his idea of disregarding fear into account.  

Abbey's natural experiences influenced his notion of fear and why people should never live in fear. Since Abbey has had many life-threatening situations, he views fear uniquely. I appreciate his thinking regarding the theme of fear because I like understanding how to manage fear and uncertainty. Without fear, we can't grow as individuals. Fear is a form of opportunity that challenges us to overcome any situation. Abbey also views fear in this way because nature is his oasis for survival and overpowering fear. We have read about his dangerous journeys, and he always seems receptive to fear and developing ways to bypass the feeling. I admire his ability to absorb and reflect on fear as a motivator, but something people should outgrow. 

During my time outside this week, I thought about defeating doubts. Throughout this semester, spending time in nature has allowed me to be more introspective and connect my life experiences with naturalists like Abbey and Mary Oliver.

To summarize, this observation of nature within the bounds of the JRB Carswell Air Force base is limited. However, the present nature serves the valuable purpose of allowing people to think deeper about their lives and connect with the great outdoors. This trip was more meaningful as my participation in Trek & Texts exposed me to Abbey and Oliver's exciting thoughts and ideas to truly understand nature deeper and overcome our deepest fears. 

Journal 7: Trinity Duck Pond

When exploring the Trinity Duck Pond, I had a blast relaxing and watching the ducks easily swim around the pond. I went with a few friends last week, and we discussed how majestic and extraordinary ducks are. As we arrived on a hot and sunny day, many ducks swayed along the water and quacked endlessly.

The pond is shaped in an oval manner with a huge fountain that raises water high in the air and sprinkles water across the pond when the wind blows. People can walk around the pond as there is a parking lot on one side, and if you cross the bridge over the water, you can spot a playground area for children and pets. 

Some of the ducks sit outside of the water, resting their legs. We even spotted a giant mother duck protecting her eggs outside the pond. I was able to snap a photo without disturbing her. She was beautiful with streaks of brown and white with a thick black beak. I found it interesting that her beak was curved instead of flat, which makes me think she might not be a Mallard. After researching, I think she is a Blue Morph Snow Goose because of her black feathers on top and white underbelly. She looked as fluffy as a cloud. My research also suggested that these geese travel to the South during the fall and winter, therefore adding to my hypothesis of the bird's identity. 
 
Other birds that coexisted with the Snow Goose were Mallards, Canadian Geese, and the Common Merganser. Turtles were also present in the water but extremely rare compared to all the geese. I was delighted walking along this duck pond because I enjoyed seeing various birds in one area. This is the first time I have seen this many ducks in one location in Texas. I lived on the East Coast a few years ago, where duck ponds like this were present in every neighborhood. While exiting the bridge to get to the opposite side of the pond, squirrels scurried up the tall trees. The trees surrounding the duck pond were tall and old, providing so much shade for my friends and me. I realized how this duck pond area functions as a complete ecosystem in every direction you look. 

 
The nature of the Trinity Duck Pond is the asset that makes this area beautiful. I valued being in the vicinity of an oasis for the ducks. I loved walking around and seeing the geese travel as a unit in the water. Geese are social creatures, like humans, in that they move and connect with others quickly to feel comfortable in the face of humans. This acceptance of seeing ourselves in other animals reminds me of one of the Mary Oliver poems I read, Can You Imagine? I think back to how Oliver has this sense of comparing human activities and actions to other species of animals. Using her tactic now, I can see how geese have various personalities, likes and dislikes, and feelings. Monitoring the geese is almost a reflection of the human experience.  

Duck ponds and the animals that inhabit them play an essential role in our community. Having a duck pond to go to is vital as we can view how other animals live, interact, and appreciate the world we all live in. I never knew how special it is to have a community duck pond until visiting because many of us don't take the time to appreciate the things that were naturally given to us. Duck ponds serve as a place to understand our nature on a deeper level and provide a space for humans to reflect and grow.  

I want to come back to the Trinity Duck Pond and participate in a community clean-up event, as one section of the pond was dirty and filled with trash from humans. Joining a trash pick or even creating an event myself would benefit the community around the pond. I have seen many cans, paper, and other trash that can harm the animals and pollute the water and air. Anything to help preserve the natural nature and animals should be a community effort.  

In conclusion, I had a fantastic time with my friends as we spent hours watching, documenting, and discussing the importance of ducks/ geese and their impact on our community. I love participating in my nature exploration to evaluate what I have seen, heard and understood after this walk through the Trinity Duck Pond. I learned the importance of spending time in nature by reflecting upon yourself.  

Mary Oliver Poem 3: Can You Imagine?

The poem asks the question Can You Imagine? This is usually connotated with a negative feeling, but I like that when Oliver asks this question, she derives from an idea of happiness and patience. The poem explores what it would be like to be in the shoes of a tree. Just standing in nature through all seasons with only birds for entertainment and the wind to carry anything new to the area. I love how Oliver uses her poetry to link nature with the human experience. Her method of using questions is her way of communicating with us, her viewers. Oliver challenges the reader to think with a big-picture mindset. She says, “Surely you can’t imagine they just stand there loving every minute of it.” I find it interesting that she expands on solitude and enjoying small moments.

Just by reading Oliver’s poem, you can tell she has a deep relationship with nature, specifically everyday, mundane nature. Her perspective of typical nature scenes is captivating to make them relatable to her audience because we all have thought these questions or have wondered what it would be like to be in another form. In my opinion, Oliver’s description of a tree being in patience and happiness does seem like a dream as humans are constantly on the move, enduring their everyday lives. 

 
Overall, this poem lives in the feelings and thoughts of a tree, and I laughed when reading it because I may have imagined what it would be like to be a tree. Mary Oliver has a distinct way of personifying the nature around her and noting her experiences. These tactics make her writing understandable, reflective, and enjoyable.  

Mary Oliver Poem 2: Some Questions You Might Ask

I found the poem Some Questions You Might Ask astonishing because Oliver's questions are thought-provoking and sentimental towards all life. The poem starts with the main topic of understanding the soul. Then, the piece delves into more meaningful and reflective questions that challenge our place as humans on Earth. Her questions are based upon deciphering what beings have the capacity of a soul compared to others. Intuitively, she digs further into what a soul looks, feels, and sounds like. For example, I connected with one specific: "Who has it? Who doesn't?". I often think about this question because humans seem to be the only species with souls. After all, our dominance over the world and our various personalities show that we have souls. However, I think about other animals, like my dog Cede. She is a Labradoodle who is shy but loves to play. She's extremely loving. I compare her to other dogs, which makes me question whether dogs have souls like humans? I enjoy that Oliver's writing comments on the beauty of nature and our natural understanding of Earth as humans. Her questions challenged me to ponder her ideas about what a soul is and possessing one.  

Another aspect I appreciated from this poem was her tone towards all life beyond human lives. She reminded me of the Standing Bear reading and how Native American culture views all animals, including plants, with equality in nature. Equality and soul possession within all species of life symbolize nature because we are all connected, and each serves a significant role in maintaining life for everyone. All aspects of life impact the world in which we live, as all life depends on each other.  

After reading Mary Oliver's poem, I was delighted to have delved deeper into nature literature. My perspective has broadened since Treks & Text began. I am grateful to experience and understand life through a new and improved lens.