Mary Oliver Poem #5: "Hum"
The whimsical and captivating poem “Hum” written by Mary Oliver immediately caught my attention, further enriching my knowledge and understanding of bees and their crucial role in the ecosystem. I was enthralled by the opening line of the poem “what is this dark hum among the roses”, describing the simple joy experienced by the bees and the domino effect their joy brings to the nature around them, like when sipping the flower’s nectar. As previously mentioned in the classroom and in blog posts, I absolutely love flowers and have a particular connection to roses, so I was hooked on this poem from the start.
The simplicity of the bees’ existence is noted several times throughout the poem and encourages the reader to appreciate the beauty in simplicity. It reminds me to anchor myself in the moments of joy and tangible pleasures, appreciating the small things that lay the groundwork for life’s grandeur. Bees, although small and seemingly meaningless, play a powerful role in society through pollinating flowers and crops on which humans depend.
However, the immense joy experienced by bees is fleeting, given their limited life expectancy. Mary Oliver expresses this sentiment in the following passage:
“The little worker bee lives, I have read, about three weeks. Is that long? Long enough, I suppose, to understand that life is a blessing.” (145)
Yet, despite their shortened life, bees continue to find a purpose in the everyday interactions. The brevity of a worker bee’s life, around three weeks, is filled with constant activity, movement, and vitality. What is often seen as mundane is a work of art to them. They fill their life with sweetness and share their joy through a “hum”.
Life is incredibly precious; it’s vital for us as humans to wholeheartedly embrace its magnificence, fully immerse ourselves in its wonders, and actively contribute positively to the world.
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