Mary Oliver

The World I Live in

faith doubt free verse reflective

The World I Live in - meaning Summary

Choosing Openness to Mystery

The poem rejects a life governed only by certainty, logic, and proof. Its speaker defends openness to possibility, suggesting that wonder depends partly on the mind's willingness to imagine it. The reference to angels is less a claim of evidence than a statement about perception: people may recognize extraordinary things only when they allow room for mystery and doubt.

Read Complete Analyses

I have refused to live locked in the orderly house of reasons and proofs. The world I live in and believe in is wider than that. And anyway what’s wrong with Maybe? You wouldn’t believe what once or twice I have seen. I’ll just tell you this: only if there are angels in your head will you ever, possibly, see one.

default user
PoetryVerse just now

Feel free to be first to leave comment.

8/2200 - 0