I climb, I backtrack. I float. I ramble my way home

I climb, I backtrack. I float. I ramble my way home

Mary Oliver, the beloved poet known for her deep connection to nature and the natural world, often writes about the journey of the soul and the search for meaning in the world around us. In her poem "I climb, I backtrack. I float. I ramble my way home," Oliver captures the essence of the human experience as a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, and moments of both clarity and confusion.

The first line, "I climb, I backtrack," speaks to the cyclical nature of life and the constant struggle to move forward while also facing setbacks and obstacles along the way. Oliver acknowledges that progress is not always linear, and that sometimes we must retrace our steps in order to find our way forward. This sentiment is echoed in many of Oliver's poems, which often explore the themes of growth, change, and resilience in the face of adversity.

The second line, "I float," suggests a sense of surrender and acceptance, as if the speaker is allowing themselves to be carried along by the currents of life rather than fighting against them. This idea of letting go and trusting in the process is a common theme in Oliver's work, as she often encourages her readers to embrace the unknown and find beauty in the unexpected.

The line "I ramble my way home" speaks to the idea of finding one's way back to oneself, of returning to a place of peace and belonging after a long and winding journey. For Oliver, home is not just a physical place, but a state of being, a sense of connection to the world and to oneself. By embracing the meandering path that leads us back to our true selves, Oliver suggests that we can find a sense of wholeness and fulfillment in even the most challenging of circumstances.