Poetry Activity: "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

"The Summer Day"
 By: Mary Oliver
 Annotated by: Danielle P.

 In "The Summer Day" the author used many techniques to provide the poem with an overall message. Oliver used the technique of imagery and realism throughout the entire poem. Her use of imagery added to the overall message by allowing the reader to visualize what was happening, while her sense of realism allowed the reader to relate to what was happening. Oliver used both techniques when writing: "Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face./Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away." (Oliver, 9-10) So, not only can one now visualize and relate to what is going on, they can get some understanding towards an overall message, being at this point although humans and animals have similarities there are things the other cannot do. Another technique Oliver used was her use of allusions. "Who made the world?" (Oliver, 1) is the opening sentence of the poem, this can be taken as an allusion towards God/religion. Oliver also alludes to religion/God/the bible when she says:

    "I don't know exactly what a prayer is,
    I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
    into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
    how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
    which is what I have been doing all day." (Oliver, 11-15)

It is shown through the diction she uses, using the words "prayer" "kneel down" and "blessed" in which she alluding to praying, which is a religious action, this gradually pushes the reader to think about the actions people do but may not understand. Oliver also has a very good use of diction in which it allowed her to get her message across. The message of the poem was summarized/stated in the last four lines:

    "Tell me, what else should I have done?
    Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
    Tell me, what is it you plan to do
    with your one wild and precious life?" (Oliver, 16-19)

In line 18 Oliver switches from her previous formal tone to an informal tone as she uses the word "you". This directs the question towards the reader as the questions are no longer rhetorical like they were in the beginning three lines. It allows one to think that the meaning of the poem is about living life to the fullest. One can get this impression when they read "Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?" (Oliver, 18-19) as she uses an oxymoron by stating that life is "wild and precious" meaning that although life may be considered wild that it is also precious as it is the only life one has.

    Overall, Oliver used many techniques to gradually build up to the overall message. Her use of imagery and realism allowed readers to compare similarities in human life and animal life, while her use of allusions and diction brought the reader to understand that life is something that we only get one of, and the way we spend it should bring us full potential towards a successful and happy life. Therefore, the overall message of Oliver's poem is to live life to its fullest and don't take it for granted.