When Death Comes
Published on Nov 18, 2015
A Poetry Presentation of the Poem by Mary Oliver
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
When Death Comes
by Mary Oliver
The short title, “When Death Comes,” quickly introduces to the reader the repetitive clause in the poem, lessening the importance of the line and shortening the reader’s time spent contemplating it.
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Bio on Mary Oliver
- Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Winning Poet
- Mary Oliver was born in 1935 in Maple Heights, Ohio.
- She attended both Ohio State University and Vassar College,
- but did not receive a degree from either institution.
- Oliver is notoriously reticent about her private life.
Bio Continued
- She had long-time partner, Molly Malone Cook.
- The couple moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts,
- and the surrounding Cape Cod landscape has had
- had a marked influence on Oliver’s work.
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
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When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
Oliver creates a rural setting in the poem, incorporating natural imagery and similes.
For example, her straightforward simile, “hungry bear in autumn;” suggests that death is usual, expected, and comes with the season.
For example, her straightforward simile, “hungry bear in autumn;” suggests that death is usual, expected, and comes with the season.
When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
Other repetitive clauses are introduced during the turning point of the poem.
“When it’s over,” seems to introduce Oliver’s positive goals: “I want to say all my life / I was a bride married to amazement. / I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” The poet utilizes personification here: “amazement”as the groom and “world” as the bride. These lines seem to reveal the poet’s intention to extract everything out one can out of life, from every possible angle.
“When it’s over,” seems to introduce Oliver’s positive goals: “I want to say all my life / I was a bride married to amazement. / I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” The poet utilizes personification here: “amazement”as the groom and “world” as the bride. These lines seem to reveal the poet’s intention to extract everything out one can out of life, from every possible angle.
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
Oliver also uses the brief image of an iceberg, suggesting the shocking chill of death as it comes to extinguish a heart’s warmth “between the shoulder blades.”
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument
Oliver repeats, “When it’s over,” to alternatively introduce the next repetitive phrase, “I don’t want to…”
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
Photo by Stuck in Customs
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.
This repetition of "I don't want..." brings the poem to a single, ending line: “I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.” The isolation of this one line in the poem symbolizes the ending, death.
Initially, readers might label Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes” as depressing and haunting.
However, upon looking at the rich imagery and symbolism, you discover the poet’s hope and belief that there is time to seize the remainder of her life on earth. She is 79 and has out lived her life partner.
Rather, she beautifully and artistically conveys her awareness of the usual fear of death and its causes.
Initially, readers might label Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes” as depressing and haunting.
However, upon looking at the rich imagery and symbolism, you discover the poet’s hope and belief that there is time to seize the remainder of her life on earth. She is 79 and has out lived her life partner.
Rather, she beautifully and artistically conveys her awareness of the usual fear of death and its causes.
Photo by martinak15
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,
The poet also uses earthly imagery in describing life: “and I think of each life as a flower, as common / as a field daisy,”.
This stanza in particular describes life as a a unique and normal. The use of the word, “field,” suggests life as a community and then the single "flower," as that of an individual.
This stanza in particular describes life as a a unique and normal. The use of the word, “field,” suggests life as a community and then the single "flower," as that of an individual.
Photo by archer10 (Dennis)
