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Writing Short Poems Hiking And Nature Themes

By Christa Jarvis


The whole world is raw material for poetry. Today, the internet opens doors that were once controlled by publishers, and anyone can post a poem. Many of these amateur works are good, too, and as much fun to read as as they probably were to write. There is a wealth of short poems hiking theme oriented written by famous poets. Those who explore the world on their own two feet but neither read nor write poetry are missing a lot.

Taking a hike is different from walking. People walk on sidewalks, asphalt paths in parks, or in shopping malls. Health advisers suggest parking at the far end of the lot and walking to stores or the office, walking at lunchtime, and taking the stairs rather than the elevator.

Hikers get off paved streets and sidewalks to explore the mountains, see deer in their home woods, listen to creeks running over rocks, and breathe air that only plants have handled. They make a special effort to get ready, set aside a whole block of time, and dedicate themselves to a day or a month or a year of special adventure. They follow the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, climb Old Rag, or find some other challenge and reward.

There's no doubt that scenery is one of the main rewards. Everyone who has hiked through endless miles of trees to reach a summit and looked out over several counties will appreciate Gerard Manley Hopkins. This Victorian poet and priest celebrated the 'dappled things' of nature. Sunlight falling through treetops, brightly-colored fungi on fallen logs, clouds against a blue sky, and the sparkle of moving water thrill the soul, and Hopkins says it best.

Stephen Crane, who wrote 'The Red Badge Of Courage', also wrote poetry. He speaks of 'the march of the mountains', an idea familiar to anyone who has seen the misty Blue Ridge or the clear-cut Rockies spread out in majesty. Robert Frost is famous for his poetry about life in the New England countryside. He wrote a poem called 'The Mountain', which has an Old World flavor and will evoke vivid pictures in the mind's eye of any reader who hikes.

Poets thrill to nature, using it as metaphor for human emotions and experiences. Emily Dickinson uses her unique perspective and syntax to create some of America's most beautiful and succinct verse. She writes a lot about bees; 'The Bee Is Not Afraid Of Me' is obviously inspired by an excursion into a wooded area far from downtown.

The memories of the trail reawaken while hikers sit at home in cozy chairs, reading great poetry. A hike is an adventure, a breaking-away from daily routine and entering another world where humans are small in scale and importance. However, the activity is significant in a way that mowing the grass or watching afternoon football will never be.

Knowing how people have felt through the ages about natural beauty encountered back of beyond helps hikers give shape to their impressions. That is valuable, even if they never write short poems of their own.




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