This week the young viking writers went on a side quest outdoors to find inspiration in the courtyard of their school building. Before venturing outside, we discussed “why” nature poetry and what does nature poetry serve. We read ol reliable Mary Oliver and went out in search of our own wild geese.
“What She Told Me” by Theofania T.
Feel the warm rays on your face
hear the birds talk to each other in chirps
the sound of cars driving by whoosing
sitting in nature’s arms, tight and warm
all of a sudden nothing else matters to me
I know my problems and responsibilities, but right now I have none
Everything is blocked out by the breeze of Mother Earth
I hear everyone silently whisper like the birds
now it’s just me and her so I ask her
show me something worth staying for
show me a reason to not walk away right now
and she did…a squirrel
running around campus searching for his reason to stay
just living with no problems in the world
no duties to fulfill no
promises to make knowing you can’t do it no
people to please and pretend you like no
no one to change for no
one to impress no
friends to worry if they are good or not no
reason to have trust issues
that squirrel is living the life I wish to have
the life where I can be me and if you don’t like it, welp
there is the door honey.
“Summer” by Owen C.
As the water splashes on my bare leg in the summer heat, the grass is turning green.
The plastic sprinkler sways back and forth.
The cold touch of mist refreshes my skin.
The grass is greener on the other side they say.
Now in summer, I see they told no lies.
No assignments due and no stress in sight.
A cold Chicago winter, far far away.
The beaming hot sun here to stay.
The cicadas may be annoying, but it’s ok.
I’ll forgive it though because I can wake up on my own time the next day.
Let’s live in the moment and remember today.
Look around at the birds graciously flying around my face.
The clear blue sky with no thunder under way.
Under the sun, am I tan yet?
No. I am red and peeling like a snake.
“Nature Poem” by Louis B.
He escapes his job
for an hour of peace
to be in the noise
running out of the building
like it was on fire
as he walks he can hear a bird
he looks up, his eyes are cocked,
he begins to cry.
“Bald Head Shining in the Sky” by Brian C.
He looks up with a sense of purpose
rends to take on the day
walk down the street and listen to the birds chirp
heels clacking with every step.
He feels the cool air tingle around his finger tips.
He walks in the door, eyes darting around
in search of something.
Fills his pockets
like a kid in a candy store
and when he leaves there is a feeling of imminent dread.
As he approaches the school he works at
he lets out a sigh
that could only be pulled out through
years of experience.
“Nature Poem” by Melanie C.
The wind blows through my
hair as I sit on the beach.
Birds chirping and
people walking into
the building.
The red doors constantly opening
as somebody new walks through
them every time.
