[Edward Zuk]

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?