Our Environmentalist’s Anonymous writing group met on Valentine’s Day, so I thought it fitting to start out writing a little love note to the Earth.
Consider this first part an epistle warm-up exercise. I gave my writing group some small hearts to use as their eco-valentine, but any paper or your journal will do!
Begin by addressing something in nature directly:
Dear Earth, Dear Favorite Tree, Dear Blade of Grass...
Write for 10 minutes and make this as personal as you can, with as much detail as you can. Feel free to include illustrations!
I addressed my love note to wetlands, please forgive my messy handwriting. They have been on my mind lately, especially after reading Annie Proulx’s book Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis. Last year, I was the poet-in-residence for the Port Susan Bay Reserve outside of Stanwood. This restored estuary property is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Washington. Recently, they published a lovely article called “Water Connects Us All” by Leah Palmer about the ongoing restoration work. The article does a good job of blending science with creative reflection.
The way of connection is revealed by water—snowy summits melting, forging rivers, winding streams and cutting wetlands to spill over a salty edge.
-Leah Palmer
Writing Prompt:
How does water connect us all? Write for 15-20 minutes responding to this question. Use poetry or prose and try to think about a specific place or memory of water. How did it shape you? How are you directly affected by water (waterways, rivers, oceans)? How does it connect you to yourself, your family, your neighbors?
Happy writing!
Our next Environmentalist Anonymous writing group is Feb 28th from 10:30-11:30 at Village Books Reading Gallery. I post the prompts from these in-person gatherings on this site the following week. Thanks for writing along with us!