The Poet Laureate of Pinterest
The article explores how the poetry of the late Mary Oliver has gained a second life as viral, bite-sized wisdom on platforms like Pinterest. It examines how her work is repurposed into inspirational quotes for social media consumption.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intersection of traditional literature and modern digital culture, showing how classic works are recontextualized for a new generation.
NW Orchard, LLC courtesy of the Library of Congress August 17, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save Committed anxious types like me rarely find a poem opening as enticing as this one from the late Mary Oliver:
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
Why yes, I have worried about that: Will the natural order of things suddenly turn against itself? And what can I, a small, unremarkable being, do to fix it? The poem’s troubles go on to cover aging, illness, regret. And then, with a sigh, it resolves itself. “Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing. / And I gave it up. And took my old body / and went out into the morning, / and sang.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in