Interpretation

This poem “Messenger” by Mary Oliver deals with being made to love the world and to be in ah of its beauty. To take life for its beauty and to not just see what the world can do and give to you. But by showing thanksgiving in every situation you come into that involves the world, which is pretty much everyday. Also to not worry about the earthly things like materialism, or looks and the latest and greatest things that will eventually fade, but love the creation that has been bestowed upon us and to be in one with it and rejoice in the fullness of creation.

Although this read may seem simple to understand, but with giving it a second read it will begin to unfold. I want to figure out more of what is being said in this poem than just the basic clarity. I specifically want to dissect the ending of stanza 2 moving into 3. It is talking about how everything on earth is in its place its one in unity so therefore, the things on earth are unified, and all things are to be joyous. The last stanza, being astonished for loving the world shows your gratitude from your mind and your heart cause if you didn’t have your mind and your heart you couldn’t possibly love the world without them.  To go deeper in the meaning of what this poem is saying I ask myself a few questions like: Who is the messenger? Mary Oliver is the messenger because her work volunteers her to do this by sending love, attention, and gratitude and sending a message. She keeps her mind on what matters, which is her work. And her work which is loving the world. To who is the message to? I answer with to everything, creation, and everyone!  What is the message? Telling them that we will live forever in rejoicing with gratitude.  

 For love of the world. Mary Oliver may come across as seeming like loving the world is work or like a job to most that may first start off reading it, but as she goes on you see her passion and love for creation. She starts to realize the things that matter to her before, they no longer matter i.e. staying young, her clothes etc. She then becomes grateful for her “mind, heart, and body-clothes.” Because without these three things there would be no way for her to possibly love the world and all it’s beauty she wouldn’t be able to fathom all the “ingredients” that were put in to making creation, she wouldn’t realize the rejoicing in it would bring eternal life to one’s soul. Not necessarily adding years but adding youth to the soul. You go on this poetic beautiful journey with her, unveiling God’s creations and what we are supposed to do with them. Ultimately have love, respect, gratitude, and be joyous.

“My work is loving the world.” “Keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.” “This is gratitude to be giving mind, heart and these body –clothes from our Lord.” These few pieces from the poem clearly show the love and astonishment she has for creation and the world. And what her work is. These sections don’t beat around the bush but clearly informs us off her love and passion she has for all creation. These were the key stanzas that really showed me what the poem was trying to tell me. At first reading it was very confusing until I read it again and again breaking it down to understand each stanza and then each sentence until I had full clarity.

I believe that we too are messengers. And everything in life has and plays a roll just like in this poem. It makes you view the world in an illuminating way and to not only live in the world, but to be set apart while living in the world. We have to care about what matters and to work,  but not forgetting the still quietness of it all to be able to rest, enjoy, and find wonder in it all as well, and giving shouts of joy, for even the plants and animals rejoice unto the Lord!