In our world today, it’s considered normal for everyone to comply to society’s rules. In “The Journey” by Mary Oliver, she challenges the readers to not think about what others want, but what we want for ourselves. This poem gives us an interpretation of how everyone should lead a reliable life by listening to their own inner voice. “The Journey” is a simple poem, however one must look deeply into it to find its true meaning. The structure of the poem is written in continuous free verse, with two stanza breaks and internal rhyme. Mary Oliver uses multiple kinds of stylistic literary devices and figurative language to put emphasis on what she is trying to portray. She also uses rhyme, repetition, assonance, personification, sensory images, and metaphors. The poem’s simple structure, followed by the author’s wisdom to listen to your conscious, can be interpreted by leaving behind the past and coming into something new, such as college. The goal we all look to achieve in our lives is finding oneself even through the infinite problems blocking our path. 

Mary Oliver uses the title “The Journey” for a physical feel of one making his way somewhere, however it’s a true metaphor as “The Journey” is the actions one takes to change and find their vocation in a divine way. Even though my family and I have had struggles, especially with my parents, it was still difficult leaving them in Chicago to come down here for school. However, after almost completing a whole semester, I have realized that it was time that was needed. Time can heal many things, and it did its job as my parents and I have a much healthier relationship now. Time can also change people, as it did me, for the better. The change and healing that time caused resulted in an overall happier atmosphere for the both of us. 

This ongoing poem with only two stanza breaks gives us the idea that the concept of our life doesn’t have breaks, and is constantly moving forward day by day. Mary Oliver explains going through tough and easy obstacles well in line 12 saying, “But you didn’t stop”. She is showing the readers that moving on with their special journey is always key, not staying in the past blocked by a complication. 

This absence of stanza breaks also makes us, as the readers, roll through this piece more swiftly. Mary Oliver “pulled” the reader’s attention through her poem for a couple of reasons. For one, the sentences are small, sometimes only encompassing three to four words. And secondly, the sentences are cut off, however they continue onto the next line, making sense after reading its entirety. The author does this to give the readers a feeling of pressure and desperation, symbolizing the hardships of finding oneself. Mary Oliver quickly pulls us towards the end of the poem because life moves fast, and could be over before we know it. Some people may not understand what their reason, or goal in life truly is. Some may never find out, however many will, but not until they are close to the end. The readers move through this poem rapidly because we find our reason for “The Journey” at the conclusion. 
