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Poetry Articles & Essays
Nature Poetry - is it relevant?
The title of this essay is deliberately thought-provoking. First, let me state that Nature and the inspiration that Nature provides is never far from my writing. In a materialistic age where one might think we have moved as far from Nature as it is possible to get, we are now learning that we are an integral part of the delicate balance that some call Gaea, or the global ecosystem. For centuries, we have flattered ourselves with the idea that we are above Nature; in some way elevated to the exalted position of Lords of Creation. We are finding out now to our unease that this is not the case and that we are merely custodians of our planet, and not very good custodians at that. We have consistently mismanaged it until now it threatens our very existence.
So what has this to do with poetry? Down the ages, the poet has provided Nature with a voice - a voice that sometimes resonates in the modern world and serves as a warning. By virtue of this, the poet and the ecologist find themselves fighting on the same side. Both may celebrate the glories of Nature while never losing sight of Mankind's place in the world, so there should be more to nature poetry than merely singing its praises. The flowery 'Isn't Nature beautiful?' school has little to do with the implacable force that, whether we like it or not, affects all we do.
As I stated in the opening paragraph, Nature is never far from my writing. Even in my more urban poems, she is in the background, standing just around the corner or slipping down a dark alley; unseen perhaps, but still there. She may be capricious and she can be cruel; that is her way, but she is always vital.
In answer to his critics, the poet Ted Hughes once said that his poems were less about violence and more about vitality - the vitality of survival and a celebration of life's assertion, even in death.
To sum up, nature poetry is as relevant to the twenty-first century as as it has ever been - perhaps even more so as we lose sight of our once close relationship with the blind forces that surround us. Good nature poetry should never lose sight of this relationship.
Dickpoet |
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Richard J. N. Copeland
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