Literature serves as a connection between nature and the human experience, say BYUH students and a professor, broadening perspectives
The ultimate inspiration to write comes from time spent in nature, said Sai Ramirez, a sophomore majoring in information systems from the Philippines. “When humans make a building,” he said, “they already have a purpose in mind. But with God-made nature, we are the ones who have to find a purpose for it.”
From feelings to words
Ramirez said he depicted a river in his poem titled “Til You Forget” and submitted it to the Kula Manu, the BYU–Hawaii student-published literary journal. “‘Flow my quiet river, and fill with peace, the ocean bed,’” he quoted from his poem.
This poem is a reflection of his feelings for his fiancé, he said. Most rivers are rushing and dangerous, he continued, “yet this river is calm.” He said he imagined a clear, blue river, and in his imagination, it was the most beautiful river. The poem reflects the peaceful feeling his fiance provides as a solace in the “rushing world,” he explained.
Elaborating on the creation process of the poem, he said he first recalled special memories with her and the growth he wanted to see from their relationship. Next, he said he flashed back to the memory of his favorite ocean and garden, and then he combined the memories into his favorite type of poem. “I love poems, the ocean and the garden,” he said. “Why not combine all of them?”
Jase McDonald, a senior majoring in English from California, also said he loves. nature-related literature. He said relating to animals’ behavior is an easy way to reflect on the human experience. McDonald pulled out a past Kula Manu journal and pointed to a non-fiction story titled “Humpback Whale” written by Portia Thompson. The story portrays the life of a mother and compares it to a female humpback whale taking care of her baby calf. He shared that part of the story says, “‘Sitting there watching the whales with my three-month-old daughter made me wonder, does the humpback whale have it all figured out? Does being a mom come naturally? Does she get overwhelmed? … Does she have days where she just wants to skim along the surface and do her best to just get by?’”
He said the writer perfectly illustrated the similarities between human experiences and the natural world. Through the story, he said he learned the sacrifices mothers make across species are the same. “I am obviously not a mother myself,” he said, “but [when I read it], I think of my mother and everything she had to do for me.” The story helped him appreciate his mother more, he said.
Ramirez said he can convey his emotions verbally, but it does not sufficiently capture his deepest thoughts. Poetry is his safe zone to describe heartfelt and indescribable feelings that sound like an exaggeration when said, he explained. “[In poetry], people are free to express without the burden of seeing the immediate response of the reader.”
A new lens of seeing
Patricia Patrick, dean and associate professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters, said her favorite book, “The World of Wonders” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, offers a magnificent perspective on nature. Her point of view on nature drastically changed after she read the book, Patrick said. “I think that’s the incredible thing that literature does for us,” she continued. “It appeals to our minds and hearts, [and then changes us as] a whole person.”
She likened language to a lens, saying, “It’s like photography. We focus on something, and we shift the focus to emphasize certain things and bring out things we don’t see when we’re looking ordinarily.” She said Nezhukumatathil extends an implicit invitation to observe nature more attentively. “Her poetic language wakes up our sense of wonder so we [can] see things almost as if for the first time.”
Patrick said it is easy to forget about the miraculous world people live in and just go through their daily routines, but literature highlights life. She said literature seems to say, “Don’t forget to look at how amazing this was,” and serves as a reminder for everyone to not take anything for granted.
Liken ourselves to nature
There are all kinds of different intelligences in the world that are aware and sensitive, and people need to be aware and sensitive of them as well, said Patrick. She said, “We tend to think that we are separate from nature, but we are nature ourselves.” She explained some things on earth share the same characteristics as humans.
One creature on earth she said she can relate to is the aspen tree. She described how this tree’s leaves dance in the wind, intertwined and interlocked with others in the aspen forest. She said this reminds her that the aspen has always been a part of the community just like she is part of a community.
McDonald said a creature that embodies his personality is an orangutan. “It has a very unique look. [It is] slow, gentle and quiet,” he said. He said he wants to embody the orangutan and be a more peaceful person.
Ramirez said, “Being the wind would be the best because it can go wherever it wants to go, and it doesn’t need to be in open nature. It can be in the cities and even in crowded places.” He said he wants to be traveling and observing things in the world.