Blue Iris : Poems and Essays

For poet Mary Oliver, nature is full of mystery and miracle. From the excitation of birds in the sky to the flowers and plants that are "the simple garments" of the earth, the natural world is her text of both the earth's changes and its permanence. In Blue Iris, Mary Oliver collects ten new poems, two dozen of her poems written over the last two decades, and two previously unpublished essays on the beauty and wonder of plants. The poet considers roses, of course, as well as poppies and peonies; lilies and morning glories; the thick-bodied black oak and the fragrant white pine; the tall sunflower and the slender bean. James Dickey has said of her, "Far beneath the surface-flash of linguistic effect, Mary Oliver works her quiet and mysterious spell. It is a true spell, unlike any other poet's, the enchantment of the true maker." In Blue Iris, she has captured with breathtaking clarity the true enchantment and mysterious spell of flowers and plants of all sorts and their magnetic hold on us. An elegant collection of poetry and prose about flowers, trees, and plants of all sorts. A companion to Owls and Other Fantasies, Mary Oliver's poems and essays about birds, was one of the best-selling volumes of poetry of 2003 and a Book Sense 76 selection. Blue Iris, Oliver's new collection, is designed to be a companion to that volume. Elegantly illustrated, Blue Iris brings together ten new poems, two dozen of Mary Oliver's favorite poems, and two previously unpublished essays. The poet considers roses, of course, and poppies and peonies; lilies and morning glories; the thick-bodied black oak and the fragrant white pine; the tall sunflower and the slender bean. James Dickey has said of her, "Far beneath the surface-flash of linguistic effect, Mary Oliver works her quiet and mysterious spell. It is a true spell, unlike any other poet's, the enchantment of the true maker." In Blue Iris, she has captured with breathtaking clarity the true enchantment and mysterious spell of flowers, weeds, plants, and trees and their magnetic hold on us