Write one to three sentences explaining how the word “swim” adds to the idea that the turtle “can’t see herself apart from the rest of the world” in the final stanza.

Answer and Explanation:

"The Turtle" is a poem by author Mary Oliver in which a beautiful and sacred action is described. The speaker is delighted by a turtle laying her eggs in the sand, patiently, full of a drive no one - not even the turtle herself - knows where it comes from. The speaker also draws attention to the fact that the turtle is unaware of itself as an individual. She sees herself as the world, and world as herself, all things converging to keep life going:

she is a part of the pond she lives in,

the tall trees are her children,

the birds that swim above her

are tied to her by an unbreakable string.

The word choice in this stanza is particularly interesting. The author chose to say that the birds "swim" above the turtle. That serves to enhance the sense of connectedness. There is no difference between the turtle and the birds. They all fly; they all swim; they are all a part of the world, and the world itself. Even though they may appear different, they belong together in nature, completing the gorgeous mosaic of life. "Swim" only helps convey this beautiful idea that the turtle "can't see herself apart from the rest of the world."