Earlier this month I shared the poem, Wild Geese, from one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver.
https://nananoyz5forme.com/2022/04/01/poetry-month-2/
The very next day I happened to hear a portion of an interview with the late poet on NPR, in which she described her traumatic childhood. A victim of sexual abuse from a very early age, Ms. Oliver turned to nature and to words to save herself. And while many of her poems are rooted in her love of the natural world, some address the abuse she survived.
Her powerful poem, Rage, deals with the hard truths of her young life.
Another poem, A Visitor, focuses on the aftermath.
I had no idea these poems existed—that this woman who wrote such beautiful words about nature also wrote soul-wrenching poetry about the dark horrors she endured as a child. I wanted to save this little girl, but she saved herself instead. I guess, in the end, we all do the same. If we’re lucky.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Amazing work Leslie. Thank you for sharing those.
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Thank you.
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I’d no idea of these poems. My god she was epic.
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OMG — these poems are so depressingly powerful. 😦
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They make my heart ache.
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I have no words, but am deeply touched.
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The interview I listened to shook me up. I really had no idea what this lovely woman had been through.
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That’s terribly sad. I had no idea of this, either.
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I think it makes me appreciate all of her other poems more now.
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I was familiar with the second one, but not the first. Thank you, Leslie, for sharing both. The first one put the second one into a clearer perspective. What a forgiving soul.
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She must have been.
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