Mary Oliver Poem #6: Blue Iris

Now that I'm free to be myself, who am I? 
Can't fly, can't run, and see how slowly I walk. 
Well, I think, I can read books. 
"What's that you're doing?" 
the green-headed fly shouts as it buzzes past. 
I close the book. 
Well, I can write down words, like these, softly. 
"What's that you're doing?" whispers the wind, pausing in a heap just outside the window. Give me a little time, I say back to its staring, silver face. 
It doesn't happen all of a sudden, you know. 
"Doesn't it?" says the wind, and breaks open, releasing distillation of blue iris. 
And my heart panics not to be, as I long to be, the empty, waiting, pure, speechless receptacle.

    Mary Oliver's poem "Blue Iris" delves into the beauty of nature, emphasizing the transient nature of life. The blue iris serves as a powerful symbol, embodying both enchanting allure and fleeting impermanence. Oliver prompts readers to reflect on the fragility of existence, urging an awareness of life's delicate phases. She advocates for appreciating the pervasive beauty in seemingly insignificant moments. Oliver invites us to notice the overlooked intricacies of nature, which reminded me of our previous class activity of exploring the extraordinary in the mundane. I found this practice to be really beautiful, because I often find myself getting consumed by things that don't truly matter. I rarely take the time to enjoy the beauty around me and just appreciate my existence. When I take time to be mindful and take note of the small things around me, it gives me perspective on my life.
    Furthermore, her contemplation on life's impermanence resonates with me in my current transitional phase. As I approach graduation and the prospect of entering the "real world," Oliver's reminder that change is inherent in living provides solace. I have learned about similar themes in a southeast Asian religions course here at TCU. Everything in life is impermanent as change surrounds everything that we do. This causes suffering for humans, because we expect the good moments to last forever and hardships to move quickly. One of the few escapes to suffering on this world is through becoming more mindful in the mundane. Embracing the beauty of this transformative process fosters gratitude amid the whirlwind of our fast-paced, technology-driven world, encouraging a mindful appreciation of the present moment.

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