This month, we are celebrating National Poetry Month (April 1st to April 31st) and Earth Day (April 22nd). To highlight both, I thought, why not recommend poetry books that use the natural world as either the subject or core imagery of the book? The following list includes both classic and contemporary poets.
The Lost Words: A Spell Book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
“The Lost Words” is a book for lovers of nature and language. In 2007, after noticing that the new edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary excluded forty common words concerning nature for children, Macfarlane wrote the list of these “lost words” to conjure them back. Along with the illustrations by Jackie Morris, this book is incredibly beautiful and inspires quiet contemplation for any reader.
An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo
In the early 19th century, the Mvskoke people were forcibly removed from their lands east of the Mississippi River to what is now Oklahoma today. Two hundred years later, former US Poet Laurette Joy Harjo returns to those lands and opens a dialogue with this history. This poetry collection is in good parts musical and tender. A very moving, heartfelt read.
The Dark Between Stars: Poems by Atticus
In this poetry book, Atticus returns to write about the dualities of our lived experiences. These poems offer explorations of loneliness and our search for connection along with some light-heated observations about sunsets, sharing a bottle of wine on the river, and rainy days. Even though this poetry book is short, it is equally powerful and guaranteed to awaken your senses.
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
This poetry book is the OG of American poetry and nature poetry! Inspired by Thoreau and the Transcendentalist movement, Walt Whitman penned this poetry book that would resound into the 21st century. It also reads just as meticulously and musically as the American landscape he writes about. A great poetry book that will make you think.
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver’s work often reflects simple meditations on the natural world around her. This poetry book is no exception; along with previously published work, it includes new poems from recent books like Felicity (2015). A deeply spiritual and thought provoking read!
Dog Songs: Thirty-five Dog Songs and One Essay by Mary Oliver.
It’s hard not to include all of Mary Oliver’s poetry books in this article! This one celebrates the bond between humans and dogs, specifically the ones that occupy her life. They begin in small everyday moments, but, in typical Mary Oliver fashion, become higher meditations on the world and our place in it. These poems will make you laugh, cry, and make you laugh again. Perfect for anyone who loves dogs or has one.
Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson / original editions edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and T.W. Higginson
This poetry book is another American classic. Full of poems about faith, hope, imagination, and nature’s beauty, Emily Dickinson writes in a way that is innovative and describes concepts like grief and death in a very realistic way. Known posthumously, Dickinson’s poems in this collection showcase her complex use of form and language. This is a poetry book for anyone who loves experimental styles that tackles ideas in an interesting way.
All these books (and more) can be found on our shelves and/or in our database. Check them out or place a hold on them today so that you can honor both poets and Mother Nature at the same time!
Taylor is a library information associate at OCLS
