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Four poets to bring outdoors
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Lake Massabesic, Photo courtesy of Meghan Goodrich
If Governor Sanford of South Carolina had actually been decompressing on the Appalachian Trail, he might’ve enjoyed the following poets. Whether you are looking for an escape on a rainy day or for thoughtful lyrics to enhance a hike or camping trip, these poets do not fail in capturing the beautiful complexity of nature.
Theodore Roethke- The Lost Son and Other Poems
Roethke is a master at appealing to the senses. While a talented poet in his entire life’s work, this book particularly focuses on the natural world. The poems in this book earned the nickname “the greenhouse poems.” Roethke uses the setting of the greenhouse and garden as a medium to explore life cycles and nature’s lawless beauty. The reader easily can subconsciously smell wet earth and feel humid air after reading such poems as Flower Dump or The Weed Puller. Roethke has a mature wonderment in his works of free verse and is a perfect poet to settle down with on a rainy, summer day.
Louise Glück- Wild Iris
Ever wondered what it would be like to look at the world from the perspective of a flower? Louise Glück captures possible botanical perspectives in her collection entitled Wild Iris. Some poems are clever while others inspire thoughtfulness. A daisy contemplates the strange relationship humans have with nature while an iris mourns its harvest from the garden. Glück touches on a strong spiritual and universal note through her empathetic personification of nature. This Pulitzer Prize winning book is worth a glance at, even if the closest you get to flowers is at the floral department at your local grocery store.
W.S. Merwin- The Rain In Trees
Another Pulitzer Prize winner, W.S. Merwin, captures the depth beyond landscapes in his short lyrics. In The Rain in Trees, Merwin focuses on memory, history, and touches on specific environmental mode of writing. The poet writes with a vague, mystical tone at times which contrasts against the solid subject matter. The Rain in Trees is an excellent pick to carry along on a hike.
William Stafford-The Way It Is
William Stafford has frequently related to Robert Frost in his matter of fact yet mild tone. Stafford is easily approachable, especially to those who don’t favor poetry. The poet’s daily practice of poetry writing is clearly seen in this stunning collection of his life’s work. The Way It Is focuses on many different topics of daily life, not just nature. While nature imagery appears regularly, Stafford explores all elements of life in tone that is soothing and introspective.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at manchesterbookworm@gmail.com
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