“There is only one question: How to love this world.” The concept of impermanence (anicca) in Mary Oliver’s poetry collection house of light
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24136/rsf.2024.006Keywords:
Mary Oliver, poetry, interpretation, impermanenceAbstract
The poetry of Mary Oliver (1935-2019), often described as a modern mystic and America’s most beloved poet, is distinguished by its reverent celebration of nature as a manifestation of the sacred or ‘God’s body.’ For Oliver, poetry is a means of being mindfully present and curious about life and nature, encouraging readers to perceive the sacredness of the world. This paper examines House of Light (1990) with a focus on how the Buddhist concept of anicca (impermanence) – one of the three marks of existence in Buddhism – illuminates themes of temporality and connection in Oliver’s work. Through imagery related to time and impermanence, Oliver’s poetic language captures the ephemeral nature of reality while reflecting her wonder and love for the natural world. This analysis reveals how Oliver’s approach to impermanence fosters compassion and unity with all living beings.
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