The poet as prophet, part II

The best nature poetry is neither overly sentimental nor coldly scientific. Like any genre, it looks out at the world and sees a reflection of the poet's own existence. Then, from personal revelation, it expands and speaks to all humanity.

Nature is close to the heart of a great many poets. They are not necessarily naturalists, ecologists or environmentalists. Mark Doty often writes about the urban landscape, yet his poem A green crab's shell is an excellent contemporary example to begin this exploration of nature poetry. He refers to the lapis lazuli blue, what he calls a colour of "intensity and power," used by the Renaissance painter Giotto to represent heaven.

Annie Dillard's art of noticing, described by David Lavery, lies at the heart of nature poetry. This is where, "you have to know your stuff," she told essayist Fred Musante. But even her knowledge is not professional. It flows from a passion to perceive, to know, and to understand. Dillard's informed vision allows her readers to explore the power of both nature and the human mind.

Although better known for her non-fiction writing, a poetic voice can be heard throughout her writing. Dillard (b. 1945) has published a book of poetry, Tickets for a Prayer Wheel. An example of her poetry is I am trying to get at something utterly heartbroken.

Some of my earliest poetic inspiration came from Luci Shaw. Although I no longer share her strongly evangelical perspective, I still appreciate the vivid nature imagery exemplified in Magnificat.

Identified by the New York Times as the "prophet of rural America," Wendell Berry (b. 1934) is a strong advocate of conservation and responsible land use. His deep regard for nature, as in the poem The Peace of Wild Things, has been another inspiration for me as a writer.

Bill Moyers' book, Fooling With Words, recently introduced me to Stanley Kunitz (b. 1905), whose work continues to influence the poetry community in North America. Read his joyful word gardening poem, The Round.

These modern poets have built on the groundwork laid by masters of the past. Here is a list of some of the most influential, with examples of their work. They are not strictly nature poets, but the environment holds an important place

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