Poetry to Ponder

"Something we read forms us no less than something we live through"

-Tobias Wolff

Environmental Literature, known to the students as Imagining the Earth, was a week of diving into poetry, scripture, and fiction pieces while learning to critique them as environmental texts. We were graced by Drew Ward’s presence once again for this week of learning.

Nick and Brindley (the two Student Life Coordinators) wrote a poem, devoted to Drew Ward and tried to include almost every poem that was read and talked about throughout the week. Here it is (read it out loud, with passion!)…

Mr. Ward they call him,

Well I’m lucky enough to call him Drew.

A man I once met who looked buff enough to toss me over a volleyball net with as much umph as the ball,

Was enjoying a foot soak… with cucumbers over his eyes.

These cucumbers are no guise, yes indeed… we were in for a surprise.

Coming fresh from his audition for the next broadway production of the Hulk, he dives into the tiny foot soak bucket with as much enthusiasm as he dives into a book.

Embracing the new encounters yet to come, be it bedazzling or be it cumbersome, he… was diving in face first.

The mending wall; made me think twice next time I say hello to my neighbor Paul,

No cows, no elves, no apple orchards here, so there surely must be no excuse…

To ask how he’s doing.

Snyder was a writer, challenged me to go lighter, learning flowers along the way.

A community, a class, we’re making it there, to the valley, in peace… struggles and all.

Maybe there will be solace, but for now this, we shall not miss, so we share it For the Children.

We walked home from Oak-Head with her, feeling oh so sure

That snow would come so soon, we felt the chill and well it was a thrill until

The Californians brought us back to here. Imagining is always easier when someone else imagined it first. So challenged we were by her and Drew to re-imagine all we knew.

And down to the Root Cellar which really wasn’t stellar just dank and dark and drooped. At least during this discussion there was no constant drumming coming from… the birds outside our window. As we leaned in and huddled it was a struggle to hear a word at all, but when we came together to sing a song of praise our voices overcame…or we just moved to the lounge.

And we cannot forget what most we are thankful for, the trip along the bumpy road to falling waters upon our heads and the green lush of pines surround our walk up and down. Refreshed, renewed, rejuvenating and just plain freezing

The Friday morning rain left us stuck outside under a Black Oak with Mary Oliver. A Belizean day like any other. Not one can imagine a single sound through the Brown Jays carp… and carp… and carp…. And eat the Tomatoes in the Garden Get away shoo!!

Maybe I can avoid writing my final paper that lurks to the left, shifting its weight from one side to another… its too ambitious, and I’m enjoying the Belizean rain.

“There is Wendell Berry and then there are other poets” to quote the poet himself, Drew Ward. Who set aside special time just to meditate on and understand “The Dream” and to figure out “To What Listens”, and to learn to truly appreciate “The Silence”, while reading in “The Meadow” or perhaps under “The Sycamore” and of course talking all about “Enriching the Earth”.

So I was never tossed over the volleyball net, yet, anyway…

And maybe he helped dumped out those small bags of stars onto our shoulders as he sings and sweats and sings and sweats on his strolls, laughs in bowls, around Nabitunich.

This, buff man with cucumbers on his eyes, enjoying a foot soak, diving in face first just like a pile of books.

On your departure, we bid thee… Shalom good sir.

We were able to get off campus for the day and enjoy class at Five Sisters Lodge , with an amazing (somewhat distracting) view. Then we made our way to Big Rock Falls for lunch and an afternoon swim.

Michelle, just hanging out under a waterfall.

Some of the students taking a study break at Big Rock Falls in Mountain Pine Ridge.