Gracious Nature
by Robert J. Tiess
Genre: Poetry / Nature
ISBN: 9798986179575
Print Length: 182 pages
Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell
A delightful tribute to the natural world
How special it is to read Robert J. Tiess’s Gracious Nature at the onset of Spring. It’s a real treat to delve into these colorful nature-inspired poems as the world around me is blossoming.
With great attention to detail and an authentic admiration of the world around him, Tiess has compiled a collection that will awaken your appreciation of the earth.
Gracious Nature dips into so many aspects of the natural world with over 100 poems to peruse. While some poems are quite serious, others are more whimsical, and there are those that evoke feelings of peace and tranquility too. Big subjects are tackled like the need for humans to take better care of the planet, but there are also the small appreciations we can find in our world, like a full poem on sending well wishes for squirrels. Readers will feel inspired by the poet’s clear love for this beautiful, ferocious planet.
Some of my favorite poems in this book hone in on the experiences had by some of the most common creatures around us. In “Unhurried,” Tiess details the relaxed nature of a snail in comparison to the constant rush of humans. In another, he details the ideal life of a deer, unburdened by the nearby hunters that often scope them out. “The Careful Hare” gives readers the chance to consider the constant risk that one hare takes by simply existing alongside so many predators. I loved slowing down and considering the perspectives of so many of the animals around me right now.
But Tiess doesn’t stick only to animals of course. Truly no part of nature is off limits in this book. It’s often the most stereotypically mundane natural elements that strike me most.
In “The Rocks Remembering,” he speaks of the great wisdom held in rocks, the years that they’ve been around and how they are the heirs of the earth. That poem alone made me stop a moment longer on my daily walk to take notice of these ordinary wonders and ponder each one’s history. There are also poems like “Rendering” that will strike a chord with readers by reminding us just how temporary our existence is and how forgiving the earth is despite our constant disruptions.
Like many good books on nature, this collection also uses its time to call for action. At times, the call is as big as to save the earth before it’s too late or as small as looking up to take notice of the beauty around us and our connectedness to it. Tiess succeeds in his efforts to both get a message across and not shame readers for their role in the havoc. Gracious Nature will inspire readers already infatuated with our world and those who have yet to uncover their love of it.
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