Geese, with their resonant calls and migratory patterns, have long captured the human imagination. They are symbols of journey, freedom, community, and the raw power of nature. In the realm of verse, this fascination finds expression in what we might call Goose Poetry—poems that feature these captivating birds, using them as metaphors for human experience or simply celebrating their natural existence.
One of the most widely recognized examples of goose poetry is Mary Oliver’s beloved poem, “Wild Geese.” This poem served as the namesake for Wild Goose Poetry Review, an online journal that sought to embody the welcoming and grounding spirit captured in Oliver’s lines. While the journal itself, founded by Scott Owens, has ceased publication, its connection to Oliver’s work highlights the profound impact a single poem about geese can have on the literary landscape and on individual readers.
Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” is a powerful affirmation of self-acceptance and belonging. It opens with the now-famous lines, “You do not have to be good. / You do not have to walk on your knees / for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.” This sets a tone of immediate liberation from societal or self-imposed burdens of perfection or penance. The poem suggests that one’s place in the world, and indeed in the “family of things,” is not earned through struggle or moral uprightness, but is inherent.
The geese enter the poem as a compelling natural force. Oliver writes, “Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. / Meanwhile the world goes on.” And then, she turns to nature: “Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain / are moving across the landscapes, / over the prairies and the deep trees, / the mountains and the rivers.” It is within this vast, indifferent, yet beautiful natural world that the wild geese make their appearance.
Their call is described as “harsh and exciting,” a sound that cuts through personal despair and draws the speaker’s attention outward. The image of the geese flying “high in the clean blue air” or “over the lakes and the rivers” provides a stark contrast to inward suffering. They are simply being, following their instinctual path, and in doing so, they embody a form of pure, unadulterated existence that is offered freely to the speaker.
The central message, and the one that resonated deeply enough to name a poetry journal, lies in the lines:
“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
Here, the geese become a direct voice of the world, a natural call that extends an invitation to belong. Their persistent cry serves as a reminder that despite feelings of isolation or inadequacy, one is connected to the larger tapestry of life. This connection doesn’t require effort; it is already there, waiting to be acknowledged.
Analyzing the craft of “Wild Geese,” Oliver employs simple, accessible language, characteristic of much of her work, yet it carries immense emotional weight. The free verse form allows the lines to flow naturally, mimicking the uninhibited flight of the birds themselves. The use of sensory details – the sun, rain, landscapes, the sound of the geese – grounds the abstract themes of despair and belonging in the tangible reality of the natural world. The repetitive phrase “Meanwhile” emphasizes the constant, ongoing presence of nature regardless of human turmoil.
A nature scene hinting at the landscapes frequented by wild geese.
Beyond Mary Oliver, geese appear in various forms of poetry, often symbolizing themes like migration and homecoming, the changing seasons, or the beauty of avian life. Whether featured in goose poetry for adults or captured in simpler rhymes like those found in poems by mother goose, these birds continue to inspire poets and readers alike. Their V-shaped formation in flight is itself a powerful visual metaphor for cooperation and shared journey, a theme ripe for poetic exploration. Some poets might focus on the stark beauty of geese against a twilight sky, while others might explore the complex social dynamics within a flock. The versatility of the goose as a poetic subject allows for a wide range of interpretations and themes.
In conclusion, goose poetry, exemplified by the enduring power of Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese,” uses these remarkable birds to reflect on fundamental aspects of the human condition – our struggles with self-worth, our search for connection, and our inherent place within the natural world. The harsh, exciting call of the wild geese in poetry serves as a potent reminder that even amidst despair, the world continues its majestic journey, and we are inextricably a part of it. For anyone feeling lost or alone, the simple presence of geese in a poem can offer a profound sense of peace and belonging, highlighting the deep artistic value found in observing and writing about the natural world, a common thread in many best poetry collections of all time.