I try to be good but sometimes a person just has to break out and act like the wild and springy thing one used to be. It's impossible not to remember wild an want it back.
Mary OliverRead
The god of dirt came up to me many times and said so many wise and delectable things, I lay on the grass listening to his dog voice, frog voice; now, he said, and now, and never once mentioned forever from, One or Two Things
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the beauty of nature and the wisdom it imparts, emphasizing living in the moment.
In this quote, Mary Oliver articulates the profound insights and joy that can be derived from nature. She personifies 'the god of dirt' as a source of wisdom and delightful truths, suggesting that the natural world communicates valuable lessons if we take the time to listen. By focusing on the immediate and the present moment, rather than fixating on eternity, the quote encourages a deeper appreciation for the simplicity and richness of life found in nature.
Themes
NatureWisdomPresentBeautyListening
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire a speech about mindfulness and appreciating nature during an outdoor event.
More from Mary Oliver
All quotes →At the time I was growing up, literature was involved with the so-called confessional poets. And I was not interested in that. I did not think that specific and personal perspective functioned well for the reader at all.
Mary OliverRead
I know the sag of the unfinished poem. And I know the release of the poem that is finished.
Mary OliverRead
For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.
Mary OliverRead
If I have any lasting worth, it will be because I have tried to make people remember what the Earth is meant to look like.
Mary OliverRead
Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light.
Mary OliverRead
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