Mary Oliver's "The Swan" was originally published in 2010 in her collection of poems entitled Swan: Poems and Prose. "The Swan," one of Oliver's most celebrated and well-known poems, is a significant part of that collection.
Oliver is best known for her poems involving nature and its beauty. The Women's Review of Books said that Oliver and her work is an "indefatigable guide to the natural world, particularly to its lesser-known aspects." "The Swan" certainly covers some of the lesser-known aspects of nature. The poem is an eloquent description of swans, their color, and their movements. Oliver's poem is also a meditation on the power in the simplicity of the swans and is a commentary on the human condition.
Like most of Oliver's work, "The Swan" and the collection it was published in is widely regarded as one of Oliver's best works and one of the best works of poetry of the 21st century. The collection is still widely available, which is a testament to the Pulitzer Prize winner's enduring popularity.
