A writer reflects on a transformative stay in a remote Vancouver Island cabin, surrounded by nature's beauty. They explore how poetry intertwines with the environment, sharing moments of swimming with jellyfish and foraging for salmon berries. The discussion culminates in an evocative piece that emphasizes how the world communicates through the language of poetry, highlighting our deep connection to the natural landscape.
Poetry is inherently linked to the natural world, with language reflecting the environment's beauty and vitality as inspiration for creativity.
Listeners are encouraged to reconnect with nature in order to rediscover the profound meanings behind words and the poetic essence of existence.
Deep dives
The Poetry of Nature
The discussion highlights the intrinsic connection between language and the natural world, emphasizing that poetry originates from the environment that surrounds us. The speaker reflects on their experience in a secluded cabin, where the beauty and vitality of the landscape serve as inspiration for their writing. They articulate that the language we use is deeply rooted in the stories and myths of the earth, with examples of natural elements like forests and wild orchids speaking to the essence of existence itself. This perspective encourages listeners to recognize poetry not merely as human expression but as a fundamental aspect of nature that has existed long before humankind.
Listening to the Land
The narrative stresses the importance of listening to the world around us in order to truly understand and appreciate the poetry of existence. The speaker emphasizes that words can lose their meaning when disconnected from their origins in nature, advocating for a reconnection with the environment to revitalize our understanding of language. Through vivid imagery, such as the sound of a hummingbird’s wings or the movement of an eagle, the speaker illustrates how every element of nature contributes to a larger poetic narrative. This notion of engaging more deeply with the world invites a transformative understanding of our role within it and the stories waiting to be told.
In a remote cabin in Vancouver Island in 2019, far away, I sat by the shore. I listened. I re-read poetry. I swam with jellyfish. I ate bright salmon berries and raw samphire. I gazed around and listened to the songs of the land. This piece of writing is a result of my days there.