The beauty of nature overcomes me sometimes. I wish I could truly capture what moves me in a creative way. Rather than a feeling of inadequacy preventing me from expressing myself, I have decided to explore ways to emphasize nature’s beauty. Over the years, I have dabbled in writing simple nature poetry. There’s something calming and satisfying about it, and I want to share my process.
What I share here may speak to you, or it may not. I am very far from being an expert in any area of art. Art in nature is just something that moves me – especially nature poetry. Sharing what I create, or actually more importantly how I go about it as a novice may help others. This approach is something I have shared with my college students over the years. It was a request to incorporate more “art” in our nature study practice, so we did. The result has opened up many people’s “inner artist” and peace of mind. By trying to capture art in nature, perhaps we can all find more harmony within ourselves and the world around us.
Nature Poets
Poetry has been used for millennia to express every emotion and feeling, yet there is always a new way to convey one’s experiences. Nature finds its way into many forms of art, poetry often being one of them. Famous nature poets to find inspiration from include, but are not limited to: William Wordsworth (1770-1850), John Keats (1795-1821), Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), E.E. Cummings (1884-1962), Gwen Frostic (1906-2001), Gary Snyder (1930- ), Wendell Berry (1934- ), Mary Oliver (1935-2019), Camille T. Dungy (1972- ), and so many more. Find your favorite. Realize that your favorites may change based on how you are feeling. Poets [and other artists] allow their inner voice and authentic self to glimmer through or to glow outright. You will discover this to be true as you start to create poems.
Discover more insight into the variety of poetic approaches to nature. Visit the Poetry Foundation’s collection called, Poetry and the Environment. Here you will find an extensive arrangement of categorized topics to fit your environmental interests.
Although known for his paintings, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) had some very profound statements that could be considered poetic. Here is one of my favorite quotes, and a good reminder for us all:
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
Vincent van Gogh
5 Ways to Focus on Nature for Poetry
As I write this, I admire our first snow of the season that has stuck. People have varying feelings toward such a scene. Personally, I think the landscape looks magical, and I want to experience and remember it in a special way. The first thing I want to do with my effort in capturing art in nature is to create poetry.
Let’s get settled, focused, and ready to create some nature poetry. Do these things alone, share with your family and friends, or offer this practice to your students.
- Tune into nature. This is the first thing that simply needs to happen. Create time and space to either look out the window or find a nearby place outside to sit. Also, you can read more about nature, watch nature-related programming, and take time to admire art that focuses on nature.
- Embrace the scene. Regardless of your experiences or attitudes, try to accept whatever the weather is doing around you right now. Whether you are in a rural or urban setting, or if you feel stuck or thrilled about your place in the world … find the beauty. Let go of previous emotions. Be present. (More about “Ecotherapy” can be found on another page of A Natural Focus).
- Immerse as many senses as you can to truly observe nature. If you are at a window, open it up so you can experience more than just your sense of sight. If opening a window isn’t possible, that’s fine too. Get comfortable. Spend time focusing on each sense that you can immerse in the nature scene.
- Keep a designated notebook for nature observations and poetry. Use the following prompts to stimulate observations, thoughts, and ideas. What you end up writing could be rather poetic, or it could be words or ideas to use in your creations later on. Write about your sensory observations. Use these prompts to write about the senses: Describe how the temperature and wind feel on your skin. What do you see as you look around from ground to sky in your field of view? Listen and identify or imitate/describe the loudest and softest sounds. From which way are those sounds coming? How would you describe the smells you are smelling? What are the emotions you are feeling right now and have been feeling lately? Choose one natural artifact, feature, or occurrence around you to observe and describe. Consider these prompts when studying that piece of nature: How would you describe it? Describe its size. What and where are the colors you observe? What does it feel like, or what is its texture? Discuss other identifying features. Describe the surrounding area. If relevant, explain how it moves in that environment. What does it do, or what is its purpose in nature? If you know what it is commonly known as, what is it? How does it make you feel?
- To learn more about things to do at a “Sit Spot”, how to tune into nature and make excellent observations, or find “Nature Journal” ideas, visit the “Nature Study” page or consider the book, A Practical Guide to Nature Study.
A Simple, Satisfying Nature Poem
The prompts I’m about to share have provided my students and me with a quick, easy, and satisfying approach to nature poetry. Although I do not know the origin or formal name of the following poem type, I do know that people enjoy using the format. It is something I came across long ago from an unknown source and modified it. Any time and place are appropriate for using this poem. It’s especially fun to use it when you are moved by something, are brand new to a scene, or have a deep connection to a piece of nature. Give it a try. The possibilities are endless!
Line 1 … 1 word that identifies a subject/situation you would find in nature that you want to focus on
Line 2 … 2 descriptive words for that subject/situation in nature
Line 3 … 3 action words for your nature subject/situation
Line 4 … A thought that comes to you regarding the subject/situation in nature (a statement or question)
Line 5 … Another phrase to describe the subject/situation in nature you focused on.
Here’s my creation:
Snow.
Ornate, sparkling
Blows, glistens, accumulates.
Will it ever end?
Nature’s magic.
C.J. Fitzwilliams-Heck (11/16/2022)
Try Your Hand at a Haiku
The Japanese poem, or Haiku, is used to stimulate imagery. Typically, Haikus focus on capturing the beauty of the natural world. Focusing on the current season is a perfect prompt, as well as contrasting something within that seasonal scene.
This type of poem is great for budding poets too because it is short, to the point, and can provide a sense of accomplishment in capturing the profoundness in the natural beauty you experienced around you. However, crafting a Haiku takes a little more thought than our last nature poem. For this one, you must have the correct number of syllables for each of the 3 lines, 17 syllables in total with the metered lines of 5-7-5, respectively. Don’t have the time to sit and puzzle over the right cadence? Snap a photo or take a video of a scene that grabs your attention. Revisit the photo or clip later on to reflect on that moment.
This is a simple approach to start writing a Haiku:
Title … Choose a season, nature setting, natural object/thing/occurrence (1-2 words)
Line 1 … Write a descriptive phrase about your nature topic
- a noun and 1-2 adjectives
- 5 syllables
Line 2 … Share something related to the chosen nature topic
- a noun, adjective, and verb
- features and actions that stand out; a question
- 7 syllables
Line 3 … Continue describing the chosen nature topic
- another noun and adjective
- how it makes you feel; your wishes; other observations; contrast it to something
- 5 syllables
Check to make sure you have the three lines with 5-7-5 syllables per line, respectively
My attempt:
Snow
Fluffy, white and calm
Will it end in my lifetime?
Nature needs to heal
C.J. Fitzwilliams-Heck (11/16/2022)
From a known Haikuist:
Old Pond
An old, silent pond
A frog jumps into the pond
Splash! Silence again
Matsuo Basho, famous poet (1644-1694)
Give nature poetry a try! It takes your nature study to a new level. Try spending time with your observations and reflections about nature whenever and wherever you get the chance. Creating nature poetry is a beautiful and cathartic way to express yourself and to get to know your place a little more closely. Start or continue with that nature notebook today and follow what was covered in this article. Have fun with it!
For a quick reference, download or print a copy of the easy Nature Poetry steps.