Mary Oliver ​is a poet beloved for her deep reverence for the natural world and her ability to turn quiet observations into profound reflections on life, death, and beauty. While many readers are familiar with her most famous poems like “The Summer Day” and “Wild Geese,” Oliver’s extensive body of work contains many hidden gems.

This article introduces 45 lesser-known but deeply moving Mary Oliver poems you might not know — but absolutely should. We will explore the themes, beauty, and impact of each poem, encouraging both longtime fans and new readers to delve deeper into her work.

Why Mary Oliver’s Lesser-Known Poems Matter

The Subtle Power of Quiet Observation

Mary Oliver’s poetry is rooted in attentiveness. She finds the miraculous in the mundane, the divine in daily walks. Her lesser-known poems carry the same power as her popular works but are often overlooked.

Nature as a Mirror for the Soul

Much like in her famous collections, Oliver’s lesser-known poems often explore the intersection of the human spirit with the natural world. These poems are personal, often spiritual, and consistently profound.

45 Lesser-Known Mary Oliver Poems You Should Read

Here is a curated list of 45 poems by Mary Oliver that deserve more attention. For each poem, we provide a short commentary and highlight what makes it special.

1. “August”

This poem captures the fullness of summer through the sensual sweetness of blackberries. It’s a celebration of abundance, and it invites the reader to savor life with gratitude.

“What joy, to travel the way of the hurly-burly melon.”

2. “Roses, Late Summer”

This is a poignant meditation on aging and the passage of time, reflecting Oliver’s ever-present awareness of mortality through delicate, fading flowers.

3. “In Blackwater Woods”

While somewhat known, it often escapes the top lists. This poem is a meditation on love, loss, and the necessity of letting go.

“To live in this world you must be able to do three things…”

4. “University Hospital, Boston”

In this poem, Oliver turns her gaze inward, capturing the quiet courage of patients and the sacredness of suffering and healing.

5. “White-Eyes”

Here, a snowstorm becomes a mystical presence. Oliver personifies the snow as a spirit, creating a winter hymn full of wonder.

6. “The Gift”

A short but powerful poem about unexpected generosity and the quiet love found in daily gestures.

7. “On Thy Wondrous Works I Will Meditate (Psalm 145)”

Inspired by the Psalms, this poem blends reverence for the divine with Oliver’s love for the natural world.

8. “Spring Azures”

This piece follows the fleeting flight of spring butterflies and reflects on transience and delicate beauty.

9. “Dogfish”

A strange and stunning exploration of perseverance, pain, and what it means to keep swimming — literally and metaphorically.

10. “The Old Poets of China”

In a few lines, Oliver pays homage to the spiritual solitude and deep nature-wisdom of classical Chinese poetry.

Poems from Less-Cited Collections

11. “Gratitude”

(from Felicity)

A meditation in question-and-answer form, “Gratitude” quietly shifts from observation to praise, ending in acceptance.

12. “Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way”

(from Felicity)

Oliver reminds us of nature’s teaching — life moves forward, constantly.

13. “I Did Think, Let’s Go About This Slowly”

(from Felicity)

A beautifully simple reflection on love’s quiet arrival, this poem reads like a whispered vow.

14. “Moments”

(from Red Bird)

“Moments” captures fleeting flashes of insight — those transient seconds when everything makes sense.

15. “Night and the River”

(from Red Bird)

Darkness and water blend into a poem about surrender and trust. It’s about flowing, not forcing.

Touching on Grief and Healing

16. “Heavy”

(from Thirst)

This powerful piece speaks directly to the grieving heart. It’s raw, aching, and deeply compassionate.

“It’s not the weight you carry but how you carry it.”

17. “The Uses of Sorrow”

(from Thirst)

Written after the death of Oliver’s long-time partner, this poem is as brief as it is unforgettable.

“(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)…”

18. “Members of the Tribe”

(from Thirst)

Oliver draws connections between human suffering and the universal experiences of nature.

Unexpectedly Playful or Witty Poems

19. “Percy Wakes Me”

(from Dog Songs)

One of many poems about her dog Percy, this one combines humor, affection, and spiritual insight.

20. “The Poetry Teacher”

(from Red Bird)

A sly critique of formal poetry teaching, this poem is a call to authenticity.

21. “This Morning”

(from  Why I Wake Early)

A lighthearted look at the joy of simply being alive — sunrise, birdsong, breath.

More Underrated Nature Poems

22. “Little Summer Poem Touching the Subject of Faith”

(from  The Leaf and the Cloud)

Faith is expressed through flowers, bees, and wonder. It’s subtle, not dogmatic.

23. “The Notebook”

(from Long Life)

A prose poem in which Oliver reveals her writing habits and the power of paying attention.

24. “Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches”

(from West Wind)

This poem is an invitation — not to look, but to enter the living world.

25. “Wild, Wild”

(from New and Selected Poems, Volume Two)

With a single word repeated, Oliver evokes untamed joy and abandon.

Poems That Teach Us How to Live

26. “Praying”

Oliver offers an alternative definition of prayer: paying attention and offering praise without needing fancy words.

“Just pay attention, then patch a few words together…”

27. “When Death Comes”

Though not as obscure, this poem deserves repeated reading. It’s a manifesto for living fully and lovingly.

“I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”

28. “The World I Live In”

Here, Oliver writes about interior spiritual experience, often hidden from view.

29. “I Worried”

A surprisingly comforting poem about letting go of anxiety and trusting the unfolding world.

30. “I Don’t Want to Live a Small Life”

Oliver reminds us of what’s at stake in choosing to live timidly or expansively.

Exploring the Spiritual in Everyday Life

31. “Making the House Ready for the Lord”

This poem blends domestic imagery with sacred readiness — every room of life prepared for awe.

32. “Something”

(from Felicity)

It’s a whisper of transcendence — finding “something” beyond our names for it.

33. “How Would You Live Then?”

(from House of Light)

Oliver challenges us to imagine a life of full integrity, beauty, and courage.

Additional Gems That Often Get Overlooked

34. “Reckless Poem”

A candid piece about writing, truth, and risking vulnerability through art.

35. “The Moths”

A stark yet graceful poem about loss and illumination, echoing nature’s frailty.

36. “The Sweetness of Dogs”

(from Dog Songs)

More than an ode to pets — it’s about love, presence, and simple faithfulness.

37. “Storage”

(from Red Bird)

Oliver compares the inner life to tidying a home — organizing grief, making space for beauty.

38. “The Swan”

Elegant and philosophical, the swan becomes a symbol of transformation and stillness.

39. “What Can I Say”

(from Thirst)

A deeply human expression of helplessness and love — often overlooked but unforgettable.

Final Recommendations

40. “A Visitor”

(from Why I Wake Early)

A poetic account of a grasshopper’s surprise visit, opening to themes of humility and wonder.

41. “Flare”

Written in fragments, this poem captures flashes of memory and truth like a camera capturing light.

42. “Long Afternoon at the Edge of Little Sister Pond”

A diary-like reflection that slows the reader down — meditative, serene, and lush.

43. “Logos”

Explores the word as both language and divinity, bridging the physical and the mystical.

44. “Lonely, White Fields”

A quiet, haunting winter poem full of solitude and strange comfort.

45. “One or Two Things”

A philosophical reflection that hints at what Oliver considered essential in life.

Conclusion

Mary Oliver’s most famous lines may live on social media or graduation speeches, but her deeper treasures are scattered throughout her many collections. These 45 poems remind us that Oliver’s work is not just to be admired but lived.

Whether you walk in the woods or read quietly on the couch, her poems invite you to see. Not just the natural world, but yourself — clear, loved, and part of the whole.