A review by orionoconnell
The Leaf and the Cloud by Mary Oliver

5.0

This was my first dance with Mary Oliver, after seeing some excerpts of her poetry shared in various places (mostly by Misha Collins). I decided that I loved what I was reading, and traipsed to the library to grab what I could. This poem (in several parts) left me speechless in the way that any good story does. Oliver's words transport the reader into the feel of the poem in a way that I remember mostly from childhood: the warm feeling of developing a scene and story in your mind while reading along or being read to. I was there with her as she explored life's joys and sorrows through nature, and painted a masterpiece with words while explaining the artistry itself. I was in a daze as I finished, immediately wanting to pick it up again and exist in the serenity of her landscapes, observations and stylizations. I can't wait to read more of her works, and I can't wait to add this one to my bookshelf so that I can take a highlighter to the numerous parts that I imagine will stay with me and make me just think to myself 'wow', every once and awhile.