I was introduced to Mary Oliver by my grandmother, who always kept the most fantastic gardens. These two women instilled in me a deep appreciation for nature; it is something I draw from regularly to keep me grounded, calm and grateful, particularly during stressful periods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was repeatedly struck by the small beauties of nature I encountered while working and sheltering in New York City. Moments of crisp blue sky unfettered by smog or jet trails; the sounds of bird call echoing across hushed avenues; impossibly brilliant spring tulips; hawks circling above Union Square Park. These discoveries offered tiny moments of absolute bliss during an incredibly challenging time.

Sara Awan’s artwork entitled "Twins in Yellow Hats" (Spring 2015 Intima) evokes similar feelings for me—I am simultaneously calmed and energized by its bright yet gentle colors, and struck by the hints of texture. Seeing bits of nature in the otherwise completely unnatural space of medicine—including in the painted bodies of newborn twins—is a reminder of its intricate, and often overlooked, relationship with human existence. The piece also reminds me (in my limited art knowledge) of Mary Cassatt and the beautiful nature-inspired art done during the Impressionist period. An inspiring group of women to keep me in touch with and grateful for the natural world!

Katharine Lawrence is an internal medicine physician living and working in New York City. Her writing and poetry has been featured in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Academic Medicine AM Rounds, in-House, and KevinMD. Her poem “Where Are You Mary Oliver” appears in the Spring 2020 Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine