Poet of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, Mary Oliver was willing to listen, to hear. From that willingness emerges a body of work that is as humble as it is wise. She sang with open throat the prayers of the grass, the waggle of honey bees, the flowing river, the waiting sun, and asked on behalf of the earth crumbling under our carbon footprint that we get to know this haven we have called mother.
Musical Selection for this Podcast
- Bellbird chorus by Andrew Skeoch
- Words spoken by sunlight by Rich Batsford
- Staircase part 3 by Keith Jarrett
- Spider web’s enchantment by Pieter de Graaf
- From both sides by Joni Mitchell and David jaggs
- Opae E by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Benedictus by Karl Jenkins
- Morning has Broken by Yusuf and Cats Stevens
- El Condor Pasa by John Sheard
- Take Five by Elson Complex and Paul Desmond
- Georgia on my mind by Jimmy Smith
- The Bricklayer’s beautiful daughter by Will Ackerman
- I can see clearly now by Johnny Nash
I was especially moved not only by the choice of poems together w the accompanying music, but also by the commentary. The way Mary Oliver’s unpretentious and profound attention to and love of our world informs Maryama’s own poetics was a pleasure to listen to.