http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.html
Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” is a guide from the poetic speaker to the reader about living an authentic life, a life free of internal judgment towards oneself. Initially, the poem begins with “You do not have to be good”, establishing a personal and intimate conversation as the speaker is directly speaking to you – not just any reader or audience, the speaker looks to directly create the dynamic between themself and you, their only audience. The repetition of “you” allows for a personal, down to earth, a conversation between the reader and the poetic speaker; putting the two on the same playing field.
Alluding to Biblical references, the speaker goes on to say that “You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting”. The speaker stresses that life should not be spent repenting for your shortcomings, your sins, your faults – these are subjective mistakes that only contribute to your experience as a human – everyone makes mistakes and thus, learns from them.
In contrast with modern principles and moral codes, the speaker encourages the reader to “only [let] the soft animal body [of yours] love what it loves”, reminding the reader that they are not just humans but an animal. By asserting that humans are animals, the speaker is implying that it is acceptable and healthy to give in to one’s desires and needs just as an animal would, without hesitation and over-analyzing one’s choices. Utilizing tactile imagery, the speaker reminds you that their body is soft, like that of an animal; this comparison inadvertently reminds the reader that their are made like the animals of earth who need not fret over their body’s shape, structure, or physical attributes. It is merely a vessel for which one lives.
The speaker asks of the reader to “tell [her] about despair, yours, and [she] will tell [hers]”, furthering the humanistic narrative. This furthers the relationships between you, the reader, and the speaker, as if the two of you are in one room with full capability to share insecurities, and be vulnerable with one another – a truly intimate experience that most humans fear, nowadays.
However, the poetic speaker acknowledges that “meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile, the sun and clear pebbles of the rain are moving […]” and “meanwhile the wild geese […] are heading home again.” The repetition of “meanwhile” emphasizes that life goes on, regardless of one’s personal troubles. The natural world does not stop turning for the troubles of humans. The natural world could very easily exist without humans.
Providing to comfort to you, the reader, as “no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination” to bring solace and to remind each person that they are a part of “the family of things”. Although the world is lonely, and the existence of humans truly only matters to humans, the natural world is there to inspire, uplift, and restore your faith; to the speaker, the natural world is a safety blanket of sorts to you, just as a literal blanket is to a child.
Although the poem is one stanza, without a clearly defined structure, the last five lines stress that the reader is a part of the world and its creatures, utilizing the simile to emphasize that the world “calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting”; the signs and invitations of the world may not always be soft and encouraging but always with purpose. Just as winter urges the wild geese to fly south, you are encouraged to fly wherever you can find comfort in existing.
The poetic speaker recognizes that in the modern world humans have become detached from the natural world and need reminding that they are animals, too; once readers recognize their place in the world the superficial and chaotic distractions of quotidian hassles disappear and the simplicity of life is realized. In a world where everything can seem so imminent and earth-shattering, the speaker grounds readers and gives them permission to rejoin the natural world once again, and maybe take some lessons from its creatures.