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I realized recently that I find myself reaching for Mary Oliver’s poetry during difficult periods: I read extensively from her body of work during the pandemic, finished her final collection Devotions in 2022, a challenging year for me personally, and in the first month of 2025, I read New and Selected Poems, vol. 1. I don’t know that I have anything to say about Oliver’s poetry that hasn’t already been said with more eloquence, but I’d like to suggest a 1:1 ratio of bad news to poetry going forward. It helps. 📸: I’m holding a paperback edition of New and Selected Poems, vol. 1 with one hand. A gray crochet blanket that matches the cover is visible in the background. via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/DFnP3hKxOhV/