Speak for the Trees

Written by Josie Hammond & Liv Adao

Our favorite Ohioan poet was born in the summer of 1935, where she spent her young life developing an adoration for the natural world as a sanctuary from her difficult upbringing. She published her first poetry collection at 30, living on the Massachusetts coast with her long-time partner, Molly Malone Cook. Happy pride Mary! She continued to write and inspire millions across the globe with her intimate and tender poetry until she sadly passed in 2019 at 83 due to cancer. Her most notable awards were the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for “American Primitive,” and the National Book Award in 1992 for “New and Selected Poetry”. 

Here at We Speak for the Trees, we celebrate a weekly tradition called Mary Oliver Mondays. It’s simple enough: we pick a Mary Oliver poem and share it with the world, discussing its lessons and importance in order to carry on the legacy of our favorite poet. So for our first Mary Oliver Monday, we chose a poem that we think encapsulates Mary Oliver’s message and also what we hope to achieve here at Speak for the Trees. Ladies and gents, this is “Praying” from her collection “Thirst: Poems” 

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Praying by Mary Oliver

It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak

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Though the poem has an inherently religious-based message, we also read it as an instructional guide into practicing gratitude to recognize the magnificent world around us. Oliver invites each of us to discover a deeper self that is found within the solitude of nature. By recognizing the importance and beauty of the world, we are inspired to preserve that beauty. As Mary Oliver herself would teach, paying attention to the world is to care and respect it; now more than ever being able to respect and listen to the world when it calls out to us is paramount for its survival and preservation. So as Mary Oliver urges us, we in turn urge you: pay attention to the wonderful things, both big and small, that are constantly surrounding us.

Until next week, fellow tree huggers!