After rereading Robert Hass’s Poem State of the Planet while in the midst of wildlife at its best, I was able to understand his passion for nature. I could sense every word was written with care and thought. As I sat watching the wind thrust the nature around me back and forth I realized that I was living inside Hass’s poem itself. With a Tornado nearing towards Lakeland, Florida I could understand some of the first words Robert used in his poem. “Rain lashing the windshield. Through blurred glass gusts of a pacific storm rocking a huge, shank-needled Himalayan cedar.”
This poem didn’t speak to me the second time around as much as it did the first time. However, it allowed me to feel what the poet might have been feeling. The inspiration of the natural world around us that’s forgotten and helpless with no one to speak for it. I could understand the poets reasoning more then before.
After reading Corrigan’s Notes on Nature and Poetry as Spiritual Practices I was able to understand the concept of reading poetry better. I agree with Corrigan when he talked about engaging with poetry and nature as spiritual practice.
“Learn to slow down, and actually slow down. Learn to calm down, and actually calm down. Learn to be present in the moment, and actually become present for a few moments…” This section was somewhat common sense but somehow it made me realize how often I try to slow down, but never slow down, or how often I desperately try to be present in the present moment, and actually become present for a few moments. I find that often I am physically present in a moment but my mind is elsewhere. With the distractions of this world it’s common to find yourself stuck in these moments not actually experiencing all you were meant to experience.
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