Poetry in Nature

For centuries, artists and poets have used nature as an inspiration. Nature poetry can be a great way to express your creativity. Looking for a new way to spend time outside? Grab some paper, markers or crayons and head outdoors! It’s time to become a nature poet!

Never written a poem before? No problem! Here are a few places to start.

Acrostic poem:

Look around you for inspiration and pick out an object or idea that is important to you. This could be something general, like “tree,” “bird” or “butterfly,” or pick something more specific, like “birch,” “goose” or “monarch.”

Once you have selected your subject, write your word in all capital letters on the left side of your sheet. The letters should stretch from the top of the page to the bottom.

Next, write one word or phrase for each letter, and tie it back to the original subject.

The final, optional step is to decorate! Use markers, pens, pencils, stickers, washi tape or whatever else you have available!

Haiku:

The haiku poem originated from Japan, and it is a poem comprised of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line goes back to five syllables. Here is an example:

This example rhymes, but yours does not have to! Write one haiku or string multiple together to make a longer poem.

Five senses poem:

Feeling overwhelmed? This is a great way to focus on your surroundings. On a sheet of paper (or in your head), think about your five senses. List five things you see, four things you feel, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you can taste.

Freestyle:

Let loose! Combine poem types or use none of them! Poetry can be whatever you’d like it to be, so create whatever you’d like. Decorate the page or let the words speak for themselves.

It may help to come up with a theme for your poem. Gather inspiration from the wild world around you, and focus on something tangible, like “fish,” or think of an idea, like “growth.” You can also think of a past experience you enjoyed, or something you want to do in the future. Feel free to use your imagination!

Here are some literary tools to help you out:

Alliteration is the repetition of words or similar sounds to add emphasis, like red robins ride the wind. Repetition of a word or phases adds emphasis, too.

A simile is the comparison of two different things using “like” or “as” — the river was swift like a cheetah. A metaphor is the direct comparison of two different things, like “you are my sunshine.” The subject is not literally sunshine, but the comparison illustrates the type of person the subject is.

Personification may be a useful tool when writing about nature, because it assigns human traits to creatures or object that aren’t human, like saying “the tree branches wrapped around you like a hug,” or “the wind whispered to me.”

Remember, this poem is for you! Take in your surroundings and get inspired. Go nuts!