Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Happiness" by Mary Oliver delves into the essence of joy and contentment through the journey of a she-bear in search of honey. Oliver employs nature as a lens through which to view universal truths, a recurrent motif in her oeuvre. Here, the she-bear is not merely an animal driven by biological imperatives; she becomes a vehicle to explore the complex human condition, encapsulating our eternal quest for 'sweetness' or happiness.

The poem begins with the she-bear's meticulous search. She's described as a "Black block of gloom," representing not only her physical appearance but possibly the adversity or challenges one faces in the pursuit of happiness. She shuffles "through the woods," suggesting a journey that is deliberate yet fraught with obstacles. Finally, she finds her treasure-the "honey-house deep as heartwood"-and in this moment, the atmosphere changes. There's a sense of achievement that goes beyond mere survival, reaching into the territory of joy and fulfillment.

As she digs into the honey, her actions aren't just about nourishment; they verge on sensual pleasure and abandonment. She "lipped and tongued and scooped out in her black nails," until she maybe becomes "full, or sleepy, or maybe a little drunk, and sticky down the rugs of her arms." This scene mirrors human experiences of joy-how it fills us, makes us lose track of time, and even leaves us intoxicated.

Then comes a transcendental moment when the she-bear begins to "hum and sway." Oliver leaves us to wonder whether the bear is lost in her happiness or actually has a larger sense of her place in the world. Is she connected to the universal joy that nature provides? Her "honeyed muzzle" lifted "into the leaves," and her "thick arms" spread as if "she would fly," transforms her into an "enormous bee." Here, the line between the bear and her surroundings blurs. She becomes part of the ecosystem, not just a consumer of its offerings.

The poem concludes with the bear's imagined flight "down into the meadows, the perfections of honeysuckle and roses and clover." This idyllic landscape is where she can "float and sleep in the sheer nets swaying from flower to flower day after shining day." This end vision represents the epitome of happiness-a state of being where one is in harmony with the world, enveloped in 'sweetness.'

"Happiness" thus extends an allegorical tale about the pursuit of joy, capturing the manifold dimensions of contentment, from the visceral to the spiritual. Just like the she-bear, humans also embark on quests for their own 'honey,' and the happiness we find might lead us to a deeper connection with the world around us, elevating us to places we never imagined. Through the journey of a single bear, Mary Oliver lays bare the intricacies of the human condition, encouraging us to seek, find, and savor the sweetness that life has to offer.

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