“Wild Geese” is very different from many written poems. Oliver's personal life, the free form of the poem as well as the first line "You don't have to be good" and the nature imagery contribute to Oliver's intention to convince the audience that for to be part of the world, a person must do it. no need to aspire to the standards of civilization. Oliver would write this poem because she did not conform to the wishes of society. According to the Poetry Foundation, Oliver never earned a degree despite attending Ohio State University and Vassar College. By not finishing college, she had strayed from the normal American life process of growing up, going to college, and then working. She also "met her longtime partner, Molly Malone Cook" while helping to organize the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay. This choice is not a normal decision that people must make; however, she is still successful and has received numerous awards, including honorary doctorates (Beacon). Although she lives the way she wants, Oliver still manages to be successful and happy. Additionally, Oliver clearly demonstrates that one does not have to follow society's rules to be happy in his poem "Wild Geese", using a free-form structure. for a poem that doesn't rhyme. Many poems rhyme. By not rhyming or following a set structure, Oliver demonstrates that the poem does not need to follow normal requirements for a poem to be meaningful. The poem begins with a bold statement: “You don’t have to be good. » The first line has no rhythm or pattern, which further demonstrates the delineation of the status quo of poetry in this poem. The difference in structure between this poem and many others helps distinguish the poem and its message from...... middle of paper ......a work to support Oliver's argument. Works Cited Beveridge, Alex. Personal interview. September 2, 2010. "Contributor Bio: Mary Oliver." Beacon Press: independent publisher of serious fiction and nonfiction. Internet. September 27, 2010. .Hayden, Robert. "Mary Oliver: The Poetry Foundation: Find poems and poets. Discover poetry." The Poetry Foundation: Find poems and poets. Discover poetry. Internet. September 27, 2010. .Oliver, Mary. “Wild geese”. Literature. Ed. Kennedy, XJ and Gioia, Dana. Longman, 2010. 861. Wild Geese (original). March 18, 2010. Youtube. September 2, 2010. .Wild Geese - a poem by Mary Oliver. May 1, 2009. YouTube. September 2. 2010. .