Mary Oliver's career as a poet was shaped by transformative experiences throughout her life. Growing up in a small town in Ohio, she developed a keen awareness of nature, often finding solace in the wild and the margins of her surroundings. The loss of close friends and mentors deeply affected her, imbuing her poetry with themes of grief and spirituality. Additionally, Oliver lived in New England, where the natural landscape inspired many of her works. Her contemplative approach to nature and mortality resonates in her poetry, emphasizing a profound connection to the world around her.