Mary Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose work focused on nature, passed away on January 17.
Many of Oliver’s poems focus on the connection between nature and the spiritual world, and her titles — such as “The Swan” and “The Rabbit” — reflect this. She is perhaps most well-known to have penned the question: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Her work appeared in publications such as The New Yorker and made many best-selling lists.
She is revered in the conservation world for bringing attention to nature and the spiritual connection that humanity has to it.
Olivia DeSmit is a staff writer for Conservation International.
Further reading