Mary Oliver was once an artist who used her words to paint and illustrate images of the natural world, her poetry centered on stillness of nature events hummingbirds motionless in the pond and the like. He was also referring to the fact that Oliver finds himself particularly effectively on the edge of things, on the line between earth and sky, the thin membrane that separates the human being from what we vaguely call animal. For her she could not be a poet without the "natural world". The main reason why he writes all about nature is due to his troubled family life. Mary once suffered from sexual abuse and abandonment as a child, which is why she turned to nature as a refuge from her stricken domestic lifestyle. Mary Oliver's poetry deals with natural themes that carry messages to human society, caused by her turbulent childhood, her choice to remain isolated from society, and her relationship with her family. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Oliver's Writing Techniques That Show the Different Nature of Women In the world people often make emotional connections with many different inanimate or animate objects. This can be seen in the poem “The Black Walnut Tree” where two women, a mother and daughter, argue about whether or not to sell their walnut tree. In the poem Mary Oliver reveals the delicate relationship that women have with the tree using poetic devices such as analogies, symbolism and a strong final paradox. With an analogy, Mary Oliver tries to convey to readers that there is an underlying connection that women have with the tree. They are worried about their inability to pay their monthly mortgage, but there is “something brighter” moving “in [their] blood” and preventing them from solving this problem. This “edge” resembles a “trowel that wants [them] to dig and sow,” urging them to maintain the tree. This analogy shows that the tree means more to them than just money. It's difficult to pinpoint what exactly it means, but its roots lie in their history. Along with an analogy, Oliver uses symbolism to give the tree a more powerful connection to women. In the poem, the daughter thinks of her “fathers who came from Bohemia,” or ancestors, and how if they had to sell the tree they would “crawl in shame” because it would create a “void” in their “and [their ancestors' yard].” This tree represents their connection to the past and getting rid of it would mean opening a hole that can't be filled. On the other hand, this tree also represents a constant struggle. Mary Oliver does a great job of suggesting the connections that the tree and the women have, but also uses a dramatic paradox to show the other side of their relationship. After they decide to do nothing, Oliver describes the tree as “swinging through another year of sunshine and fierce winds” just like a windy summer day. The tree bears “refined leaves and fruit” that show how they benefit from its beauty, but the mother said the fruit is becoming “harder to pick” and the leaves are heavier. So the real effect the tree has on them, “month after month, the snap of the mortgage,” shows the price they have to pay for their connection. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay By means of poetic devices such as analogies, symbolism, and the use of a paradox, Mary Oliver conveys the confusing relationship that the tree represents between the two women, a mother and a daughter. Like the two sides of a coin, the tree can be a wonderful sight or.