Welcome to "Tea with Julie," a weekly missive by me, Julie Bogart. My wish is to give you food for thought over a cup of tea to enhance your life as an educator, parent, and awesome adult. Glad you're here. Pinkies up!
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Cincinnati, April 30, 2022
Hi Friend,
It’s almost May, and the birds are singing, the leaves are growing, and the rain is falling in the Northern Hemisphere! Wherever you live, May is a great month to celebrate the wonderful and amazing world outdoors. So go outside, take some deep breaths, and enjoy the world around you in today’s Poetry Teatime!
Did you know that the month of May includes such celebrations as…
- Iris Day (May 8),
- Love a Tree Day (May 16),
- Learn about Composting Day (May 29), and
- Water a Flower Day (May 30)?
While some of these “days” may seem a bit too specific (Asparagus Day is on May 25!), they’re still a great reminder that we should pay attention and celebrate nature.
So in today’s Poetry Teatime, get ready to enjoy the world around you and read lots of nature-related poetry!
Why Do Poets Love Nature?
If you’ve read a lot of poetry, you may notice that poets really, really like to talk about nature. Whether they write about the changing colors of leaves or a sudden rain shower, poets are people who pay attention to the world.
Why do you think poets like to write about nature so much? Take some time during your Poetry Teatime to brainstorm some ideas. There are no right answers!
Often, poets will use nature to talk about things that they feel in their own life. How do you think what you see outside (nature) connects to what you feel inside (emotions, memories, feelings)? Do things like the weather ever change how you’re feeling?
Let’s take a look at an example of that close connection poets feel between the world and their emotions. Go ahead and read the full poem at the link below, or think about the selected lines. How does nature influence Wendell Berry?
By Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
. . .
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
. . .
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Can you think of any other poems you’ve read where the poet connects nature to their thoughts and feelings?
Now that we’ve done some thinking and discussing, it’s time to dive into the fun of decorating and eating a nature-themed teatime!
Visit our Poetry Teatime website for:
- Natural Food & Drinks,
- Earthy Décor Ideas,
- Environment-Friendly Activities,
- Poetry Books about Nature
Nature Themed Teatime
Enjoy!
Warmly,
P.S. Catch up on all the “Tea with Julie” emails here!
Julie Bogart
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