Post #661233
2026-03-14 12:31 UTC
One of Mary Oliver's most famous lines is "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
I see it quoted all the time out of context, usually on insipid inspo posts about living life to the fullest.
Every so often, I like to go back and re-read the poem it's from, The Summer Day. The meaning of a line can change quite a bit when you read it in context.
#MaryOliver #poetry #mindfulness
Replies (4)
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@Mactonex@toot.community 2026-03-14 21:26
@fullfathomfive that’s a fantastic poem, thanks for introducing me to it.
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@khleedril@cyberplace.social 2026-03-14 21:47
@fullfathomfive A poem of three disconnected parts. That's all I can think to say about it, really.
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@penpencilbrush@mstdn.social 2026-03-15 13:01
@fullfathomfive I like that Mary Oliver encourages us to re-imagine and re-evaluate what 'living our life to the fullest' means. Her thoughts get me off to a good start every day.
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@mhoye@cosocial.ca 2026-03-15 16:40
@fullfathomfive I wonder if this is the origin of the “who killed the world” line in Fury Road.