In the era of modernism, poets tried to find a basis for the further existence of people in the world, and for some, such a basis was the strengthening of ties with nature. Moreover, poetry itself becomes the central value, conceived as a way to build a new world (Shoptaw). Later, during the transition to postmodernism, poetry about nature turns into ecopoetry, where authors represent nature as a system of interrelationships that have intrinsic value. The focus is on the development of moral issues of human interaction with other members of the natural community and the environment as a whole. In the ecopoets’ works, there is a shift from recognizing the significance of human individuality to admitting the value of each element of the ecosystem. Despite their power, people should not forget that their lives depend on nature, and it is worth starting to appreciate it more.
Ecopoetry is an attempt to express in verse an awareness of the problems of interconnection with nature. One of the main characteristics of ecopoetry, as defined by James Engelhardt, is that it is connected to the world in a way that implies responsibility, and it is surrounded by ethical issues (as cited in McNee 14). Ecopoets raise emotions and communicate with their audience, identifying themselves with the entities that inhabit the planet: a tortured animal or uprooted tree. In this way, the Earth speaks and sends its message of anxiety or pain through poetry.
Ecopoetry has certain features that distinguish it as the unique direction and allow it to emphasize nature’s importance. Ecopoets widely use metaphors – for example, a metaphor of the family to convey the relationship and interdependence of various natural system elements. At the same time, the authors avoid comparisons with the human world since nature is valuable in its intact and uniqueness. Another example of the techniques used in ecopoetry is the appeal to myths reminiscent of the past when people were closer to nature. Moreover, many creators also prefer free form for their work, emphasizing that there is no established order that could last forever in the world. Most of these elements are relevant to the poems analyzed below. Four pieces are different examples of the direction discussed and are practical for its study. Poems represent contrasting situations and aspects of the environmental problem, which attracted their authors, but they also combine similar ideas.
The poem “The Bull Moose,” written by Alden Nowlan, is an indicative example of ecopoetry. The contrast between oppressed nature, personified in Bull Moose, and people in the poem intended to express Nowlan’s idea of human sinfulness. Although the author does not define a specific opinion on the events, there is a considerable division between good and evil (Nowlan). The poem is distinguished by a lack of emotionality, support, or protest, and it is similar to a statement of facts. This feature makes the piece especially frightening, as it demonstrates that humanity harms nature without even thinking about the seriousness of actions. The way the author conveys the commonplace of oppression is terrifying even more than if he presented an emotional call to action.
In Kay Ryan’s poem “Turtle,” there is neither confession nor instructiveness – nothing at all familiar and accepted in modern poetry. The author is sometimes compared to Emily Dickinson, although the poet herself rejects such a comparison (Fagan). However, her poems are also introverted, tense internally, and externally – graceful and laconic. They are charged with non-trivial meaning and are designed for the counter-effort of the reader’s mind.
In “Turtle,” Kay Ryan shows the complex unity of man with nature. It reflects the image brought together according to the poet’s subjective perception of the fragments (Ryan). Unlike Alden Nowlan’s poem, this piece is intended to demonstrate the fragile but apparent unity between nature and man from the standpoint of the shared experience they may have. The verse tells about a turtle, but through her feelings, the author also describes human feelings of oppression and depression by the outside world. There is no opposition between people and the world around them; they are this world around them. There is no apparent rhyme or metrical pattern in the poem, which indicates the spontaneity and abruptness of the experience that the turtle and all of humanity live.
Another poet that draws attention to the relationship between civilization and nature is Dave Lucas. His poem “November” consists of only eight lines, but at the same time, it conveys profound transformations and experiences. According to the presented verses, bright October ends and other colors of nature come to the forefront, indicating significant changes (Lucas). As a result, the audience appears in the atmosphere of displacement nature, beautiful and bright, by gray and brown tones that civilization carries. At the same time, the end of October can also symbolize the sunset of nature, the fact that it gives way to people, as warmth inferior to the approaching cold winter in November. Human progress provokes the degradation of nature, poisoning it with smoke and harmful substances. The main difference from the seasons is that spring necessarily comes after the winter cold, but changes in nature provoked by man can be irreversible.
As well as the previous poet, the author of “Coming Across It,” Walt McDonald skillfully transfers the readers to the situation created by him. The accurate description of the lane and the unique details of the otter unexpectedly found in the city make the audience participants in the events. The artist describes how people behave meeting a wild animal they did not expect in the streets. The gradual description of the otter conveys how distracted modern humans from nature – they alternately recognize the eyes, nose, fangs, and pelt (McDonald). What is happening is surprising and makes passers-by look for help from each other, discussing what to do with garbage and parasites, which it attracts. Thus, the author demonstrates a severe separation and even the alienation of man from nature. People are so closed from everything natural outside the walls of their houses that even the little otter can cause confusion.
Thus, ecopoetry is designed to remind that people are dependent on nature, connected to it. However, hiding behind their progress, they do not notice how far they have withdrawn from it and gradually become oppressors. The analyzed poems are also united by a single message: the view that everything on Earth exists for the sake of humans is outdated. The planet requires care, and it is a question of the survival of people and all living beings. Violence against nature and people returns to ecological and demographic catastrophes. The hope remains that poetry will inspire people to reconsider their attitude to nature and their world. Humanity should choose how to treat it – as consumers or as loving people who enjoy it but leave nature in its original form.
References
Fagan, Deirdre. “Kay Ryan and Poetic Play.” CEA Critic 79.3 (2017): 267-274.
Lucas, Dave. “November.” Book’s Title, Book’s Publisher, Year of Publishing, p. page number.
McDonald, Walt. ”Coming Across It.” Book’s Title, Book’s Publisher, Year of Publishing, p. page number.
McNee, Malcolm K. “Ecopoetry and Earth Art.” The Environmental Imaginary in Brazilian Poetry and Art. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2014. 11-35.
Nowlan, Alden. “The Bull Moose.”Poetry in Voice. n.d. Web.
Ryan, Kay. “Turtle.”Poetry Foundation. n.d. Web.
Shoptaw, John. “Why Ecopoetry?.” Poetry 207.4 (2016): 395-408.