Reflection on Group Presentations

     For my last blog post of the semester, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the Mary Oliver discussions we had in class this week and what I took away from some of my peers selections of poems. One of the first things that stuck out to me was the different approaches that people took when choosing their poem. Some focused on the subject, others the language, others the themes, and others still the beauty of the mental picture that was painted. I personally took the approach of focusing on the subject, as the poem that I chose was "Fall". Although not included in the blue or white book (haha!), the poem struck me with its personification and the beauty with which it depicted my favorite season. I throughly enjoyed both Sheridan and Autumn Rae's poems, as well as their subsequent presentation, particularly due to the fact that both of the girls added an emotional, personal tie in to the poem. I think with the amount of readings and activities we have done for the class over the course of the semester, we can forget to slow down and apply what we are learning to our real lives. I appreciated both Sheridan and Autumn Rae's attention to detail in their poetry selection and hearing them be vulnerable in sharing the personal connections to each poem. 

    One thing that I appreciate about the Mary Oliver pieces and Devotions is the way in which the author lets us in to her seemingly subconscious thoughts. My biggest takeaway from this semester is the importance of observation of the seemingly mundane and ordinary. Oliver perfectly encapsulates this idea in the way she writes poetry. Whether a single leaf falling to the ground, a rose petal shedding, or the sun rising over the horizon, Mary Oliver finds beauty in the mundane and celebrates the fact that we get to bear witness to life. It is in these moments of observation that we encounter true peace and what life is all about- joy and reverence. 

Beauty in the mundane - Los Angeles, California - 2023