Poets have taken their inspiration from nature in many ways. The natural world often mirrors the inner life of the human being. In reading the work of Mary Oliver, this becomes evident. She spends a lot of time out in natural spaces. She writes about the beach, the woods, the life of the pond, and how her inner process often reflects that world.
A simple walk in the woods
offers the quiet one needs to ease frazzled nerves. However, we don’t need to
live in the country to find these places. City dwellers can walk in parks, visit community gardens, or explore urban waterways. Museums often have outdoor gardens.
There are arboretums and botanical gardens, which present additional
opportunities to feel closer to the natural world. Many of these places are
handicapped accessible.
Part of the mission of this
initiative is to encourage people to become stewards of the land. We spend so
much time indoors. It takes a conscious effort to put on your walking shoes and step outside. Do you know the best places to walk in your community? Your
town or city is likely to have a listing of green places to walk. Central Park
in New York City is a stunning example of a beautiful and inspiring space in an
urban setting. The Audubon Society has nature centers in many towns. These centers offer
education about the environment and include outdoor spaces for further exploration. There are also unofficial green spaces in communities that are not as easy to find. Ask friends about their favorite places to walk.
John Muir wrote; “Thousands of
tired, nerve-shaken, over civilized people, are beginning to realize that going
to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”. Take a walk, read
a poem, become stewards of our open spaces.
