"This book, HERE: Poems for the Planet, contains many beautiful, generous poems and ideas for action. It is my heartfelt hope that they will inspire readers who ask themselves, 'But what can I do?' to see that there is a way forward―learning to share the earth and its resources, while taking care of it together." ―His Holiness The Dalai Lama
“By so exquisitely and compassionately illuminating our planetary predicament, these spirited poems of diverse perspectives inspire us to step forward in hope.” ―Booklist
HERE: Poems for the Planet is a lovesong to a planet in crisis. Summoning a chorus of over 125 diverse poetic voices, this anthology approaches the impending environmental crisis with a sense of urgency and hopefulness. Now more than ever is the time for this book as it seeks to galvanize readers, students, teachers, philanthropists and everyday people to address the realities of climate change head on and become individual catalysts for change. Here looks at the world with a renewed sense of courage, fighting fear that so often leads to indifference and cynicism. The anthology also includes an activist guide, created in tandem with the Union of Concerned Scientists, and an introduction by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. With these poems, we hope you will see with new eyes what the astronauts saw the first time they peered down from space at our tiny world.
“Here: Poems for the Planet is so much more than a poetry collection [it is] dedicated to all we stand to lose as the Earth heats up.” ―Tricycle Magazine
“In these pages scientists write to poets―and to all of us who love poems. We are sharing common language, looking at the same marvelous, embattled world together and wanting it to stay.” ―Poetry Northwest
I. WHERE YOU’D WANT TO COME FROM: POEMS FOR OUR PLANET
Nezhukumatathil, Aimee: Invitation
Dawes, Kwame: Shook Foil
Abani, Chris: Descent 2
Kho’I, Esma’il: Image of Kindness
May, Jamaal: There Are Birds Here
Arthur, James: Wind
Uribe, Kirmen: Don’t Make It a Choice
Logmansbo, Valdemar A.: Spring Song
d’Aquino, Alfonso: Black Bee
Corpi, Lucha: Letter to Arturo
Grotz, Jennifer: Poppies
Geldman, Mordechai: Almost Flowers
Valentine, Jean: The Valley
Calderazzo, John: Douglas Fir Falling
Berry, Wendell: The Peace of Wild Things
II. THE GENTLE LIGHT THAT VANISHES: OUR ENDANGERED WORLD
Seibles, Tim: First Verse
McCallum, Shara: Why Madwoman Shouldn’t Read the News
Brathwaite, Kamau: Colombe
Diaz, Natalie: How the Milky Way Was Made
Mead, Jane: Money
Olds, Sharon: Ode to the Last Thirty-Eight Trees in New York City Visible From This Window
Hicok, Bob: Hold your breath: a song of climate change
Kane, Joan Naviyuk: The Straits
Pusteria, Fabio: Star, Meteor, Some Shooting Thing
Medina, Pablo: The Floating Island
Trethaway, Natasha: Theories of Time and Space
Doshi, Tishani: Lament II
Naficy, Majid: To a Snail
Hahn, Kimiko: The Fever
Dooley, Maura: Still Life with Sea Pinks and High Tide
Merwin, W.S.: Thanks
Young Patricia: Ruin and Beauty
Waldman, Ann: Anthropocene Blues
III. AS IF THEY’D NEVER BEEN: POEMS FOR THE ANIMALS
Sholl, Betsy: To a Bat Fallen in the Street
Atwood, Margaret: Elegy for the Giant Tortoises
Brown, Nickole: A Prayer to Talk to Animals
Macari, Anne Marie: Migration South
Gonzales, Rigoberto: The Slaughterhouse
Kasichke, Laura: Pregnant at the All-Night Supermarket
Saje, Natasha: We Saw No Caribou
Smith, Tracy K.: A Hunger So Honed
Griffiths, Rachel Eliza: The Human Zoo
Livingston, Chip: Punta del Este Pantoum
Qin, Shang: Rooster
Alexei, Sherman: Small Ceremonies
IV. THE OCEAN WITHIN THEM: VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Bannon, Griffin: How to Be a Hawk
Arrastia-Nowak, Betye: I Am Like a Caterpillar
Roe, Maia: Midmorning, Summer Rain
Tahajian, Talin: Variations on a Mountain Skink
Beckwith, Julia: every sunrise is a sunset, somewhere
Keener, Olivia: The Peaceful Lake
Adler-Bermudez, Ekiway: Quetzalcoatl
Brown, Lauryn: Voice
Friedman, Katie: Haiku
V. LIKE YOU ARE NEW TO THE WORLD: FROM INSPIRATION TO ACTION
Bringhurst, Robert: The Occupation
Hass, Robert: Meditation at Lagunitas
Francis, Vivee: A Small Poem
Alvarez, Julia: Bilingual Sestina
McLarney, Rosa: After the Removal of Thirty Types…
Kaplinski, Jaan: From childhood on
Hillman, Brenda: The Seeds Talk Back to Monsanto
Huerta, David: Before the Protest in the Street is Dispersed
Chincangana, Fredy: Handful of Earth
Georges, Danielle Legros: Intersection
Rajendra, Cecil: My Message
Barquet, Jesus J.: Robinson
Danladi, Chekwube O.: My Mother’s Sister Schools Me On Her Garden
Brimhall, Traci: Fledgling
Snyder, Gary: For the Children
Baberoon, Gabeba: My Tongue Softens on the Other Name
Gay, Ross: Poem for My Child if Ever You Shall Be
Roberson, Ed: be careful
Page, P.K.: Planet Earth