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3 new collections from lauded poets

Three celebrated poets have new books of verse out this fall – and each makes a welcome addition to the literary season.

2. "Blue Horses," by Mary Oliver

  • By Elizabeth Lund Monitor poetry critic

Mary Oliver’s Blue Horses is also rooted in the natural world. Yet where Wright sees impermanence, Oliver finds in nature a deep sense of belonging that counters the frenzied, human-made world. Hummingbirds, foxes, and wild roses are much-loved companions. Even a stinging wasp helps the poet feel alive.

The voice in these pages is familiar and honest as Oliver navigates new surroundings, new technology, and changes in her personal life. Although she can’t master a cellphone, for example, Oliver points out that she can make a fire. Likewise, in her first yoga class, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet admits that she can’t stretch very far, but she can

be a lotus in the pond
opening slowly, and very slowly rising.

The book, while mindful, has a breezy tone throughout. Oliver considers God, angels, and loneliness with inviting directness, not melancholy. At times, she sounds delightfully quirky or feisty as she recalls a life lesson or ponders whether stones can say “hello.”

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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