Threaded throughout Mary Oliver's many collections, there have always been dogs. Beloved by her readers, special to the poet's own heart, Dog Songs offer a special window into Mary Oliver's universe. Dog Songs celebrates the special bond between human and dog, as understood through Mary Oliver's connection to the dogs who across the years accompanied her on her daily walks, warmed her home and inspired her work. These poems begin in the small everyday moments familiar to all dog lovers and become, through Mary Oliver's extraordinary vision, meditations on the world and our place in it. Dog Songs includes visits with old friends, like Oliver's most beloved dog Percy, and introduces still others in poems of love and laughter, heartbreak and grief. Throughout, the many dogs of Mary Oliver's life merge as fellow travelers and as guides, uniquely able to open our eyes to the lessons of the moment and the joys of nature and connection. 'The popularity of [ Dog Songs ] feels as inevitable and welcome as a wagging tail upon homecoming' Boston Globe.