Poetry Analysis

Back to poet Translate into other languages

The Journey

Original Poetry

Translation

One day you finally knew

One day you finally realized

what you had to do, and began,

what you needed to do, and started,

though the voices around you

even though people around you

kept shouting

kept giving bad advice --

their bad advice—

even though

though the whole house

your whole house

began to tremble

started to shake

and you felt the old tug

and you felt the old pull

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

"Fix my life!"

each voice cried.

each voice demanded.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

You knew what you needed to do,

though the wind pried

even though the wind tried

with its stiff fingers

to pull apart

at the very foundations,

the very foundations,

though their melancholy

even though their sadness

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

and the road was full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

But gradually,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

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 strode deeper and deeper

as you walked further and further

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do—

the only thing you could do --

determined to save

the only life you could save.

the only life that you could save.

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.

Word Dictionary9

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
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

Poet & Context

PoetMary Oliver

Era20th-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.

View on Wikipedia

WhenPublished in 1963

WhyMary 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.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

self-discoverypersonal growthresilienceinner strength

Literary devices

imagery: vivid descriptions of the environment and emotionssymbolism: voices and wind represent external pressuresmetaphor: journey as a metaphor for personal transformationpersonification: wind prying with stiff fingers