“ThegiftofOliver’spoetryisthatshecommunicatesthebeautyshefindsintheworldandmakesitunforgettable“(MiamiHerald).ThishasneverbeentruerthaninLongLife,aluminouscollectionofseventeenessaysandtenpoems.Withthegraceandprecisionthatarethehallmarksofherwork,Olivershowsushowwriting“isawayofofferingpraisetotheworld“andsuggestsweseeherpoemsas“littlealleluias.“Whetherdescribingagoosefishstrandedatlowtide,thefeelingofbeingbaptizedbythemistfromawhale’sblowhole,orthe“connectionbetweensoulandlandscape,“Oliverinvitesreaderstofindthemselvesandtheirexperiencesatthecenterofherworld.InLongLifeshealsospeaksofpoetsandwriters:Wordsworth’s“whirlwind“of“beautyandstrangeness“;Hawthorne’s“sweet-tempered“side;andEmerson’sbeliefthat“aman’sinclination,onceawakenedtoit,wouldbetoturnalltheheavysailsofhislifetoamoralpurpose.“Withconsummatecraftsmanship,MaryOliverhascreatedabreathtakingvolumesuretoaddtoherreputationas“oneofourverybestpoets“(NewYorkTimesBookReview).
