
Lucy Dacus reads Mary Oliver's "The Journey"
Clip: 8/25/2026 | 1m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
Lucy Dacus reads Mary Oliver's poem "The Journey" in this outtake.
Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus reads Mary Oliver's poem "The Journey" in this outtake from "Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World."
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Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation,...

Lucy Dacus reads Mary Oliver's "The Journey"
Clip: 8/25/2026 | 1m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus reads Mary Oliver's poem "The Journey" in this outtake from "Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World."
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began.
Though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice, though the whole house began to tremble, and you felt the old tug at your ankles.
"Mend my life," each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible.
It was already late enough and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones.
But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognised as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do, determined to save the only life you could save.
(uplifting music)
How Mary Oliver met her life partner, Molly Malone Cook
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Mary Oliver met her life partner, photographer Molly Malone Cook, at Steepletop. (1m 26s)
Mary Oliver had a troubled childhood
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Mary Oliver often hinted at the turmoil within her family, but sought to move past it. (2m 32s)
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
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Celebrate the life and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver. (2m 37s)
The political nature of Mary Oliver's poems
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Mary Oliver sought to call attention to the destruction of the earth in her work. (2m)
Steve Buscemi reads Mary Oliver's poem, "The Fish"
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Listen to Steve Buscemi read Mary Oliver's poem "The Fish" in this excerpt from the film. (1m 18s)
Steve Buscemi reads Mary Oliver's "The First Time Percy Came Back"
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Listen to Steve Buscemi read Mary Oliver's poem "The First Time Percy Came Back." (58s)
Unpacking the meaning behind Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"
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"Wild Geese" is one of Mary Oliver's most popular poems. (2m 30s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for PBS provided by:
Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation,...























