I am at a strange point in life where I am constantly reexamining what I’ve always known and what I’ve always liked. Little by little, her intuition molded into understanding which bloomed into sweet devotion–an acceptance of the pursuit, so to say. Though she was lost, she found beauty in the discord and followed the rocky path upstream with grace. She reflects on being young and feeling compelled to follow the invisible and enticing forces of the natural world. Her first essay, “Upstream,” is my favorite. Upstream is a beautiful love letter by Oliver dedicated to the influences that shaped her–the natural environment, literary figures, and her home town. I even want “I ❤️ Mary Oliver” tattooed across my chest! That’s how much I admire her. This is the first piece by Mary Oliver I’ve read, and I will surely read more. I feel like I’m standing beside her in the sunlight, watching the foxes, walking in the cold creek water, or breathing in the ocean’s salty air while fishing. Her attention to detail is exquisite and endlessly captivating. Oliver writes like a true artist–each page is expertly sculpted and sprinkled with profound detail. Questions and answers are binded in 175 pages, provoking philosophical thought about ourselves and our place in this world. Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver is the missing clue to an adventurer’s quest.
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