Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
American Masters

Unpacking the meaning behind Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"

Season 40 Episode 5 | 2m 31s

"Wild Geese" is one of Mary Oliver's most popular poems. Poet David Keplinger, musician Lucy Dacus, and comedian Stephen Colbert share what the poem means to them. "We think of wild as chaotic, but wild is harmonious with the wilderness, which is where we all came from," said Colbert. "We're born wild."

Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Jeffrey Katz and Beth Rogers, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Candace King Weir, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Laura Richards and Jim Naughton, Filomen M. Dagostino Foundation, André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, The Charina Endowment Fund, and public television viewers.