Swan, her twentieth volume, shows us that, though we may be "made
out of the dust of stars," we are of the world she captures here
so vividly: the acorn that hides within it an entire tree; the wings of
the swan like the stretching light of the river; the frogs singing in
the shallows; the mockingbird dancing in air. Swan is Oliver's
tribute to "the mortal way" of desiring and living in the world,
to which the poet is renowned for having always been "totally loyal."
Following the success of At Blackwater Pond, this second CD from
best-selling poet Mary Oliver contains a selection of forty-one poems,
read by the poet in her steady, magnetic voice. Oliver recites from the
full range of her poetry-from her classic nature writing, to her verses
for her mischievous bichon Percy, to her ever-deepening spiritual poems.
The CD comes in a handsome full-cloth package that includes a booklet
with an introductory essay by the poet on the magical dynamic between
speaker and listener, a table of contents, text of the title poem, and
a photo of the poet. Many Miles will be a most welcome addition
to the collections of her readers.
Finally in paperback, Evidence is a collection of forty-six poems
that delve into the mysteries of life, love, and death.
"A 'nature' poet in the league of Wordsworth, whose poetry is said
to have inspired this volume. . . There is still almost audible excitement
in her literary voice, but her nature mysticism seems to have reached
a stage more of stillness—a quiet that is not so much a quality as
a presence that informs most of her images . . . A subtle collection that
sometimes teaches but never preaches. All the usual Oliver themes—the
divine in the physical world, the importance of having loved, the power
and consolation of words—are present." —Tim Pfaff, Bay
Area Reporter
About Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver, winner of both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
in Poetry, was acknowledged by the New York Times Book Review as "far
and away, this county's best-selling poet." Her twenty books of poetry
include Evidence, The Truro Bear and Other Adventures, and Red Bird.
Her audios include Many Miles and At Blackwater Pond.
Beacon Press is a department of the