Mary Oliver Poem #4: "When the Roses Speak, I Pay Attention"

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Mary Oliver’s captivating poem “When the Roses Speak, I Pay Attention” showcases the allure of the natural world and the simple yet profound aspects of existence. The poem first describes the idea of extravagance and encourages the reader that if they are “able to be extravagant”, then they will be “hugely and damply extravagant”. Extravagance can take a myriad of forms, through living life to the fullest while embracing abundance and richness. Contrastingly, Mary Oliver details the shedding of inhibitions and the letting go of material concerns in the pursuit of joy in the following phrase:

“Then we will drop foil by foil to the ground. This is our unalterable task, and we do it joyfully.” (124)

This “unalterable task” of dropping foil symbolizes a lifelong commitment to living life with abandonment. As humans, we are constantly evolving, changing, and growing. We shed our skins in different stages of life and experience a transformative metamorphosis in pivotal moments. As I soon enter into my last semester as a college student, I ponder what metamorphosis will ensue as I embark on a new chapter of life, entangled in new opportunities, a different work environment, and brand-new people. I urge myself to go through life with a sense of extravagance and zeal for the unknown.

This poem also tackles the issue of having heart-shackles, a metaphorical term used to describe the things that bind or restrict the heart and prevent it from experiences true freedom and joy. While external circumstances like “death”, “illness”, and “pain” are often regarded as heart-shackles, the true heart-shackles are those internal struggles of “lassitude”, “rue”, “vainglory”, “fear”, “anxiety”, and “selfishness”.

Mary Oliver ends the poem on a light-hearted and child-like, playful note when describing the fragrance rising from the “blind bodies” of the extravagant individuals—a representation of the pure elation and joy they are experiencing. At the end of the day, life is all about perspective. Shaping one’s attitude positively toward life can allow one to embrace the true extravagance of what life has to offer, while simultaneously shedding unnecessary burdens to find joy in between the triumphs and challenges.

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