This week: Nature Poetry: Inspiration is Out There Edited by: Emily  
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Hi there! My name is Emily and I'm pleased to be your guest editor for this issue of the Poetry Newsletter   Take a moment to unplug and join me outside.
 
"Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The best way to begin reconnecting humanity's heart, mind, and soul to nature is for us to share our individual stories.”
~J. Drew Lanham
"Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
~Carl Sagan
“Being able to smell the fresh air and disconnect from the news and your phone—there’s nothing like it.”
~Jason Ward
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As poets, we know that inspiration can come from anywhere and strike us at any moment. For me, most of those moments come when I'm in nature. The motion of the wind in the highest branches of the tallest tree, the crunch of fallen leaves as a squirrel scampers away, the tiniest mushroom that could shelter a thousand ants from the rain ... each of these natural wonders are ripe fodder for my muse to sculpt into a poem. Walking in nature, or even in my own backyard, is an experience so full of wonder that I can't help myself ... I write a lot of nature poetry.
Nature is simply full of inspiration. When your muse is silent, sometimes a change of scenery is needed to jog your creativity. If you are able, it can be helpful to physically get up and go outside, but many times this is not possible. In this case, going mentally to a place outside you love will work just fine. The place you imagine doesn't matter as much as your connection to it. This method is especially helpful for me when I'm feeling uninspired or mentally drained of ideas for my next poem. I hope it will help you as well when you're looking for something to write about.
Once you have a specific place in mind, sit quietly with it for a few minutes. What do you see far in the distance? What do you see under your feet? What does the sky look like? What sorts of plants are growing? Is the air cool or humid? Can you smell anything on the breeze? What sounds do you hear?
Now, let's get low and examine the tiniest thing you can see. Maybe it's a small insect, a shell, or even a flower. Maybe you can imagine the life living beneath the soil - all the tangle of roots and worms writhing beneath the ground. Maybe you can imagine the thriving communities of living things that exist in just one teaspoon of soil. (There are more living organisms in one teaspoon of soil than all the humans who have ever lived!)
Find wonder in the big and the small of your nature place. What does the ground beneath you feel like? How many people or animals before you have stepped on this very spot? What do you wonder about this place? What emotions is it bringing up for you? Who do you think of when you are in this place? What are you reminded of?
For me, when I do this exercise, my poems seem to build themselves. Even when I'm not feeling inspired, I am able to start writing and the emotions of the poem come to the surface. Often, I will sit by an open window and jot down everything I can hear for 5 minutes along with anything else I'm feeling in that moment. If you express yourself through art, this is also a great time to sketch or create a nature journal. I think you'll find that your mind opens when you write in and about the natural world. The sights and sounds and emotions you feel in nature turn easily into poetry about your place and culture while capturing the essence of what it's like to be in that place.
I hope you'll try it for yourself! Here's a writing exercise to get you started: Find a place to sit outside or near an open window. Write continuously for 10 minutes about what you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. Think also about the questions I posed earlier in this newsletter. When the 10 minutes is up, underline the phrases and images you like most and try to pull them together into a poem! If you write something new, please feel free to share what you create in the "Ask & Answer" box down below. I'd love to read and be transported to your nature place!
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Does nature inspire your poetry? If you would like to share one of your own pieces inspired by the world around you, please do so down below!  |
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Poetry: December 09, 2020 Issue [#10494]
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