Poet Laureate
Can a Poet Laureate provide the inspiration
for the public’s participation
Writing a poem in celebration
Of the nature surrounding them?
Forrest W. Heaton June 2024
Rick Smith. Good friend and college (1956-1960) roommate, Rick Smith, thought of us as he read the below outlined article in a newspaper. He sent it to us and we readily agreed we might advise our readers of this. I must admit I didn’t visit a national park to write the above poem. It came to me as I began thinking of this as a blog post. Your surroundings in a national park can be inspiration causing you to write about what you see and feel.
Inspiration. I recall our first feelings when visiting Independence National Park in Philadelphia including the actual Liberty Bell and the room where the documents were debated then signed or the five different national parks where each summer we took two of our granddaughters when they were young to learn what a national park was or Grand Teton where we gathered our family to celebrate my 80th birthday and on another visit with family, my wife, Mary’s, 80th birthday!
Article.”Why is there a poem on a picnic table in Beech Forest? Cape Cod display first of 7 in U.S.( the bold was in their article) —A nature walk at Beech Forest and a poem by Mary Oliver unveiled on a picnic table started a national project Friday at the Cape Cod National Seashore with U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limoen recalling her first visit when she arrived in Provincetown for the first time Oct 1 2001, two weeks after Sept. 11. She was living in Brooklyn at the time, Limoen said to a group of about 75 gathered at the trail head. She was driven out by her friend headed to the Fine Arts Work Center. ‘It’s just really a beautiful moment to be here at a place that for me really taught me the power of poetry and nature combined.’
Poet Laureate. One might ask “What is a Poet Laureate?” Wikipedia advises: “a Poet Laureate is officially appointed by a government or conferring institution “(such as the Poetry Foundation) “typically is expected to compose a poem for special events or occasions.” In this case, the Poet Laureate is bringing poetry to the people and people to the Parks. All good! All good!
“What is Poetry in Parks? Limoen selected seven national parks , including the Cape Cod National Seashore, for her signature project ‘You Are Here: Poetry In Parks’ The project is a partnership of the Library Of Congress, the National Park Service and the Poetry Society of America that features site-specific poetry installations in the parks. Each one will transform a picnic table into a work of public art by featuring a historic American poem that relates to the park in a meaningful way.” (When you visit nps.gov/poetry in parks you are provided with much information on this project.)
Admission. I must admit I was confused in reading the article to this point. I felt the public would not be asked to participate but reading further, I found I was wrong. Ordinary people like me ARE encouraged to write a “site-specific” poem about the nature they are in. I was thinking of traveling up to the Cape and writing a poem and including it in this post. Considering current health issues, that’s not a good idea. But there’s some extraordinary poetry involved here. Mary Oliver’s “Can You Imagine” is a joy! We love the idea of the “power of poetry and nature combined.” We were completely unaware of this. We appreciate America’s Poet Laureate bringing more poetry to the people! More awareness of the value of National Parks all good! All good! And we ARE encouraged to write and read some good poetry too, such as “Can You Imagine.” So good. So special!
Rest of the article. “Does Limoen’s project have other parts? As part of the project Limoen challenges everyone of all ages –poets and nonpoets to write their own response to the ‘you are Here:’ prompt (no matter where they are) and share those responses with the hashtag # you are here poetry. It’s simple: What would you write in response to the landscape around you.’ Limoen asks on the Library of Congress’ poet laureate page.“
“Who is Ada Limoen? Limoen is the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, who is in her second two year term. She compiled an anthology entitled ‘You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World’ in April through the Library of Congress. The anthology features over fifty American poets including former U,S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo; Pulitzer Prize winners Jericho Brown, Carl Phillips and Diane Seuss; and PEN/Voelcker award winners Victoria Chang and Roberto Gonzaelez.”
“Who is Mary Oliver? One of America’s most beloved poets, known for her accessible poems on nature’s smallest moments. Mary Oliver was a wash-ashore who felt at home on the Cape, living in Provincetown for more than four decades. She died in 2019 in Florida at 83. The Cause of death was lymphoma.”
“Wash-ashore”. Some may ask: What is a “wash-ashore”? Generally this term is used to describe a dead marine animal washed upon a beach. In this case, the author of the article used the term “wash-ashore” describing Mary Oliver as a “wash-ashore” a New England term describing someone who is not from there.
“What poem is on the picnic table at Beech Forest in Provincetown?” ‘‘Can You Imagine’ (Mary Oliver)
“Where are the next parks in the project? Cape Cod National Seashore is the first stop of Limon’s ‘Poetry in Parks’ tour. She will also visit Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. Redwood National and State Parks in California. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Everglades National Park in Florida, and Saguaro National Park in Arizona. At every park there will be an installation of a public art picnic table.“
Thank you/Enjoy. Thank you Rick! Enjoy the poetry all!
