Mary Oliver Poem #3: "Three Things to Remember"

Mary Oliver’s poem “Three Things to Remember” immediately caught my attention, and I absolutely loved it. Although concise, she urges the reader to explore the concept of breaking rules and transcending limitations. She first mentions the concept of dancing and that it is an art through which you can embrace freedom. When dancing, you have all the freedom in the world to express yourself and break the rules. Dance inspires joy and liberation from constraints while allowing the body to move fluidly without any societal or self-imposed restrictions. Growing up dancing for over ten years, the dance floor was my escape. Creativity is boundless, and self-expression is pivotal.

Additionally, Mary Oliver embraces the notion of expanding boundaries, highlighting that when breaking the rules, you are not necessarily defying them, but rather extending them and expanding their structure. I absolutely loved this point and believe that this notion should pervade society today. We live in a constantly evolving and changing world, and if we do not become flexible or adaptable, we will become stagnant and will not progress as a society. Mary Oliver’s perspective ignites a fire for innovation and a willingness to question established norms, a perspective that I do not often think about but one that I enjoy. For me, the last line takes the cake:

“Sometimes there are no rules.” (48)

Plain and simple, sometimes there are no rules. However, an absence of rules does not automatically correlate with chaos or failure. Sometimes, an absence of rules can be the greatest gift. Moreover, we live in a world where rules govern every aspect in life. This has the potential of stifling creativity, spontaneity, and uniqueness. This poem allowed me to reflect how I see the mandated rules in society and the power and control they hold.

Without the concept of no rules, I wouldn’t have been able to travel all across Europe on my own for an entire semester, having the freedom to pick a different country every single weekend. The picture attached below was from my trip to Positano Italy, the most tranquil and heartwarming place. Breaking free from the constraints of rules altogether can yield unquantifiable positive results, both for the individual and society as a whole.