Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 07-23-2018, 12:56 PM
Edward Zuk's Avatar
Edward Zuk Edward Zuk is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Surrey, Canada
Posts: 641
Default Recommend Some Nature Poetry

Now that summer is here, I find myself hiking through the various parks in and around Vancouver, where I like to bring along a book of poetry to keep me company. I’ve come to realize, though, that outside of haiku, I’m largely unfamiliar with the nature poetry being written today. I’d like to remedy that as quickly as possible.

For context, I’m decently read in the canon, and so I’m already familiar with Wordsworth, Frost, Clare, Jeffers, Clampitt, medieval lyrics that tell me to “lhude sing cuccu,” and Herrick’s daffodils. What I’m looking for is poetry written this millennium, or at least by people who lived into this millennium.

Work by Spherians would be great. Formal poetry is a plus, but I’m open to free verse, too. My only criteria are excellence and availability in English, whether that means in translation or poetry from anywhere in the English-speaking world.

So, any suggestions? Or any thoughts about what's going on with nature poetry is today?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 07-23-2018, 01:11 PM
Susan McLean Susan McLean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Iowa City, IA, USA
Posts: 10,090
Default

Here are some names to investigate: Mary Oliver, Maxine Kumin, Linda Pastan, Louise Gluck (The Wild Iris is written in the persona of different flowers). I prefer poetry that is more human-centered than nature-centered, so most of these tend more in that direction. But they do pay close attention to nature at times.

Susan
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 07-23-2018, 01:31 PM
Edward Zuk's Avatar
Edward Zuk Edward Zuk is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Surrey, Canada
Posts: 641
Default

Thanks for the recommendations, Susan. I own The Wild Iris but struggle to call it nature poetry because it is so obviously centered around a human relationship. I know of Mary Oliver, but the few poems I've read of hers struck me as being sentimental and unconvincing. I'd be happy to be argued out of this judgement, though.

I have wanted to learn more about Maxine Kumin, so this may spur me to do so. Linda Pastan is new to me. Are there any volumes / standout poems that would be good starting points?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 07-23-2018, 02:57 PM
john savoie john savoie is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edwardsville, IL
Posts: 165
Default

I like early Oliver, which is much more natural, far better than her later more sentimental work.

Try Wendell Berry. His first Sabbath poem is one of my very favorite nature poems. He also is a semi-formalist.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 07-23-2018, 03:19 PM
Andrew Szilvasy Andrew Szilvasy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 2,044
Default

If you can get your hands on poems by Hugh Ogden (a little known CT poet), you can find yourself some good nature poems here and there. His collection Bringing a Fir Straight Down is, IMO, quite good at times, and has some good nature poems.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 07-23-2018, 03:43 PM
Michael F's Avatar
Michael F Michael F is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: a foothill of the Catskills
Posts: 968
Default

I agree Mary Oliver can be sentimental, but at her best, I think she is very, very good. Here's one I can't forget.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 07-23-2018, 03:56 PM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
Default

Hi Edward,

You've probably run into the Scot Edwin Muir, who's from the last century but quite fond of nature. Here's "The Horses":

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-horses/

"The Animals" is also nice.

Cheers,
John

Last edited by John Isbell; 07-23-2018 at 04:10 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 07-23-2018, 06:07 PM
Martin Elster Martin Elster is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 7,563
Default

Mary Oliver is well-known as a nature poet. I enjoy her work.

Also, there is a nice little book entitled Poems of Nature (edited by William Roetzheim, Level 4 Press, Inc.). I have a copy, which I purchased several years ago. The front cover blurb says: “An important collection of emerging and well-known poets.” —Miller Williams

This small anthology also contains a CD of various people reading the poems. I haven’t heard it because, believe it or not, I don’t have a CD player.

Mark Allinson, a former Spherian, has a poem in the book.

Last edited by Martin Elster; 07-23-2018 at 08:39 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Unread 07-23-2018, 06:42 PM
Roger Slater Roger Slater is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 16,476
Default

Wendell Berry comes to mind. (And now see he's been mentioned).
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,399
Total Threads: 21,840
Total Posts: 270,804
There are 1482 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online