West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems

This is a wonderful book with a special and unique style of poetry. This is the 4th book written by Mary Oliver I have enjoyed reading. The first part of the book starts with the poem, "Seven White Butterflies," which is just so wonderful. One is able to see the beautiful images of the butterflies doing what they do best as illustrated by Oliver.The series of "Three Songs" is very inspiring and will uplift the mind while reading. If in a singing mood, the words in these pieces will have you humming the notes to a melody while reading. These are marvelous pieces to sooth the soul.The book is divided into three parts. Each parts has a blend of excellent poems for relaxation and enhancing the mind poetically. Part two consists mostly of prose poetry with a variety of blends and potent images. One of the poems in part two relates to a cricket. One is able to follow the theme flowing through this piece in an enjoyable manner without missing a beat in the lines.Part three is also phenomenal! The words in "Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches" is equally uplifting and inspiring. This piece will stretch the imagination to think while reading. The poetic architecture use by Oliver gives each poem and different view, which is pleasing for the eye as one reads the lines. Mary Oliver has certainly given us an inspiring foresight into God's nature. Her love of natural surrounding and the open air has provided many golden nuggets in this book. This is a wonderful poetry book to read for the soothing of the mind, body and soul.Posted by "Epulaeryu Master."

This book, to me, is about as good as poetry gets. I'm not a guy who reads a lot of poetry, but I've always enjoyed reading Mary Oliver's writing when I'm camping or exploring, and this book is among her best. She has an amazing feel for the natural world, and does a terrific job of transfering something as abstract as the feeling of a sunset into ordered, beautiful words. This is the kind of poetry even people who hate poetry might enjoy.My older sister gave me a copy of this book a couple of years before she committed suicide. The copy she gave me was full of notes she'd written to me throughout it, and I have searched everywhere for that copy. I think I must have left it somewhere, or given it away or thoughtlessly sold it before my sister died. If anyone out there ever comes across a used, paperback copy of "West Wind" inscribed to Mike from LeeAnne, I would pay almost anything to buy it from you.(No forgeries, please.)

What a joy!

The below was my original review, but upon further review, I have changed my mind. I gave it a 4 for the reasons below, but I then laid on the couch while the family was away, turned off all the noisemakers, and read all the poems aloud. These poems are too good to give a 4 to, so I have changed the rating to 5. There still isn't that poem that "jumps out at you," but all the poems are excellent poetry. Buy this book, you will enjoy it.(Excellent, but not great poetry. I enjoyed the outdoors flavor of her poetry, but there is no "Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening." I enjoyed the depth of her poetry, but there was no "The road not taken." No poems reached out to take me by the hand and guide me down my next road. As I only give "5's" to those books or albums which really move me, I just give this just a "4", but if there was a "4 1/2" available, I would give it that.)

Every word creates something I hadn’t thought of before. Something beautiful moved through me whenever I find this new thing Oliver has made for me.

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets....."West Wind" is not well known, by most readers of her poetry....I believe that is because of marketing issues? If you are a fan of her writings, I would highly recommend adding this to your collection.

No detail in the natural world escapes the observant eye and poetic mind of Oliver. She can weave a stgory line from the most minute detail of the world into which she steps. Her observant eye is to be envied..

Evocative, thrilling, loving, yearning, truth-telling. (Saint) Mary Oliver does what she always does: reminds us of what is important and what is worth our attention.

Some of the poems are extremely moving - they are very accessible and for this reason can be very rewarding on the first read.

More thought provoking poems by Mary Oliver. I didn't like this as much as 'Why I wake early', but it is still worth reading. Lovely use of phrase that makes you read it twice to get the full meaning.

Mary Oliver writes such powerful connecting poetry-how is it that she can find exactly the right way to say something(or not say something)?

The poems celebrate nature and finding the divine in the simple things like as bird song.