The Journey by Mary Oliver — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

The Journey One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice -- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voice behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do -- determined to save the only life that you could save.

Translation (English)

One day you finally realized what you needed to do, and started, even though people around you kept giving bad advice -- even though your whole house started to shake and you felt the old pull at your ankles. "Fix my life!" each voice demanded. But you didn't stop. You knew what you needed to do, even though the wind tried to pull apart the very foundations, even though their sadness was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road was full of fallen branches and stones. But gradually, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to shine through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you walked further and further into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do -- determined to save the only life that you could save.

About the Poet

Mary Oliver (20th-21st Century)

Mary Jane Oliver (1935–2019) was an American poet known for her work inspired by nature. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and the National Book Award in 1992. Her poetry is characterized by vivid imagery and unadorned language.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Free verse
When Written: Published in 1963
Background: Mary Oliver's poetry often explores themes of self-discovery and personal growth, inspired by her solitary walks in nature. 'The Journey' reflects the inner struggle and eventual triumph of finding one's own path amidst external pressures.

Sources: https://medium.com/@hannah.denker/the-journey-by-mary-oliver-3744349bddec, https://connectability.ca/wp-content/uploads/presentations/mindfulness/the_journey.pdf, https://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_thejourney.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Oliver

Detailed Explanation

Mary Oliver's poem 'The Journey' is a powerful narrative about personal transformation and self-discovery. It describes a moment of clarity when the speaker realizes what they must do to change their life, despite the discouragement and negativity from others. The poem uses vivid imagery, such as the 'voices' giving bad advice and the 'wind' prying at the foundations, to symbolize external pressures and doubts. As the speaker moves forward, they leave behind these negative influences and begin to hear their own voice, symbolizing self-awareness and inner strength. The journey is depicted as difficult, with obstacles like 'fallen branches and stones,' but ultimately rewarding as the speaker becomes determined to save their own life. The poem emphasizes themes of resilience, courage, and the importance of listening to one's inner voice.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
tug	pull	a pull	tug
mend	fix	to fix	mend
pried	forced open	to open forcefully	pried
melancholy	sadness	sadness	melancholy
determined	resolved	decided	determined
foundations	bases	bases	foundations
stride	walk confidently	walk confidently	stride
chaotic	disordered	disordered	chaotic
obstacles	barriers	barriers	obstacles