Poetry Outdoors

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Things Take the Time They Take.

Your weekly Mary Oliver poem and writing prompt.

Jun 14, 2026

Welcome to Dream Work: A Year-Long Writing Journey with Mary Oliver

In the spirit of immersing myself deeper in the practice and studying of nature poetry,

I am embarking on a year-long writing journey with Mary Oliver, reading a single poem of hers each day and then writing one in response.

I’m bringing you along on the journey. Every Sunday, I share a Mary Oliver poem, one of mine I’ve written in response, along with a poetry prompt for you to write your own in conversation with her.

Each week, we will gather in the comments section and share our Mary Oliver inspired poetry with each other.

Photo by Peregrine Photography on Unsplash

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Don't Worry
Mary Oliver

Things take the time they take. Don't
worry.
How many roads did St. Augustine follow
before he became St. Augustine?

© Mary Oliver
From Felicity, 2015
Published by Penguin Press 2017

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

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Don't Worry
Ash Kilback, after Mary Oliver

Don't worry about what you
are not, look now at all the beauty
orbiting around you, as far as you can see
and farther. You are made from the same miracle.

This Week’s Prompt: Words of Encouragement

This week, write a poem after Mary Oliver’s Don’t Worry, offering words of encouragement that you need to hear yourself but also wish to offer others who may be feeling the same. Here’s the challenge: Keep your poem to only four lines and weave in the words ‘Don’t Worry’ somewhere within it.

Come back to the comments on this post Sunday, June 21st and share your poem.

Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

Wild Attention: A Poetry Reading in Celebration of Mary Oliver

Sunday, June 28th | 7PM-8:30PM PST

Since I began sharing my Mary Oliver writing journey with you, there has been a wellspring of poetry written and a whole community of poets who have found each other through the wisdom and comfort of Mary’s work and the poems that have been inspired through it.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be hosting our first community gathering in celebration of our Dreamwork project to come together to read Mary Oliver poems and the ones we’ve written from our weekly prompts.

Here is the link to sign up to read your Mary-inspired poem or join as a listener:

There are still a few spots open to read your poem!

Poetry Reading Sign-Up Sheet

Nothing is Too Small to be Wondered About

Jun 9

P.S. - Come gather in the comments section and give praise to the poets who shared their poems from last week’s prompt on small wonders.