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Overview
“Wild Geese” is a nature poem by Mary Oliver, and it was first published in her 1986 collection, Dream Work
. Oliver is a much-beloved American poet whose work uses unadorned language to reflect on the grandeur of the natural world. “Wild Geese” follows in this tradition, envisioning the thriving vitality of the world that lies beyond direct human concern. The wild geese in the poem offer a symbolic stand-in for the reader; just as they are flying back to their homes in the north, so too must we journey back to our original home in nature.Read a summary & analysis, an analysis of the speaker, and explanations of important quotes from “Wild Geese.”
