Readers don't need to know that Mary Oliver is a nature poet to recognize "Wild Geese" as a nature-themed piece. This theme is evident throughout the poem, where nature's state is juxtaposed with the human condition. Like many poems that draw this comparison, nature is portrayed more favorably. However, it would be incorrect to dismiss this work as merely criticizing humanity while praising animals, plants, mountains, and so on. The individual addressed in the poem feels lonely, but not necessarily bad. Although the speaker states directly, “You do not have to be good,” there is no suggestion that "you" are anything other than despairing and isolated. This portrayal naturally evokes more sympathy for the human condition than anger or hostility.

"Wild Geese" stands apart from many other poems contrasting the natural world with the human realm by depicting nature's reaction to humanity in a unique way. Often, poets describe nature as indifferent or superior, ignoring human suffering and rejecting any attempt at compassion. However, in Oliver's poem, nature—referred to as "the world"—is both understanding and inviting toward people. It uses the voices of wild geese to reach out to those in distress, assuring them that they have a place within nature's embrace. The central theme, therefore, isn't that nature is better than humans, but that humans could find similar peace and joy as nature if they chose to. This idea simplifies the poem's core message, but ultimately suggests that the human plight could be relieved by allowing "your imagination" to become more inventive and aligned with nature.

Hedonism is the pursuit of activities that bring pleasure, particularly sensory pleasure. The opening lines of “Wild Geese” appear to endorse this philosophy positively. Although the first line might seem vague, one interpretation is evident: you don't need to be "good" in the religious or moral sense, which involves humility, contrition, and repentance as taught in religious doctrines. Essentially, you don’t have to emulate Jesus from the New Testament, who demonstrated his devotion to God by spending forty days in the desert resisting Satan's temptations. Lines 4 and 5 encapsulate the hedonistic idea that pursuing personal, physical pleasure should take precedence over spiritual pursuits. The speaker suggests that the most direct path to happiness is "to let the soft animal of your body / love what it loves." Animals don't consider morality or the concepts of good and evil; they simply follow their natural instincts, which are survival mechanisms. Survival is the primary goal for wild geese, cows, elephants, oak trees, petunias, and so forth, but humans grapple with an additional factor—a conscience. The theme likely doesn't advocate for discarding the moral checks and balances of the human conscience in favor of unchecked self-indulgence and bodily pleasure. However, it seems to suggest that occasionally embracing hedonism is advisable, at least to alleviate some despair and loneliness.