Whether it’s from the likes of William Wordsworth, Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Butler Yeats, or Sylvia Plath, writing nature into poetry can give a verse various tones and moods that provide a different perspective of the world around us. Some poets look at the purity and honesty of nature, while others look at the destruction Mother Nature (personified) can cause, too.
For a handpicked selection of the most powerful and well-loved nature poems, explore our curated list of the 10 Best Nature Poems.
William Wordsworth’s literary classic, ‘Daffodils,’ also known as ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,’ is one of the most popular poems in the English language. It is a quintessential poem of the Romantic movement.
In this world-renowned poem, Wordsworth finds peace and inspiration in the natural landscape of his stomping ground, the Lake District. As the speaker, Wordsworth himself, moves through a beautiful landscape, he enjoys seeing daffodils. This sight alone revives his spirit and brings him closer to the tranquility of nature.
‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ takes the reader through a speaker’s fantastical daydream to leave their world behind for the peace that nature brings.
In this poem, Yeats asks the reader to regard nature as he does: as valuable in and of itself, without human intervention. It is a place to find peace and connect with the world on a deeper, spiritual level because it is so far from that which we commonly experience in day-to-day life.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
‘Frost at Midnight’ was written in 1798 and discusses the importance of childhood and the developmental years of one’s life.
‘Frost at Midnight,’ written in 1798, discusses the power of nature to influence the aging process. Notably, the poem discusses Coleridge’s childhood. He examines what it means to grow up in different environments, proposing that if one resides within nature, they are also within God.
Robert Frost penned this poem, ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ in 1922, subsequently published with his long poem, ‘New Hampshire.’
This poem, typical of Robert Frost's work, emphasizes the peace that nature can bring us. Being naturalistic to the core, Robert Frost grounds his character in a forest, mesmerized by the snowy evening. The poet mildly indicates the presence of a human close by, albeit in-doors, oblivious to the passerby.
‘Spring’ is an unsettling poem that explores the dangers of devotion and deferring happiness instead of living in the present.
The poem's primary subject is the natural world and how it changes across the seasons. Within this poem, spring becomes a primary source of inspiration, bringing life to everything. However, ultimately, the poem is a broader exploration of people's willingness to defer their hopes and dreams and, as a result, lose out on the joy of the present moment.
It spills from sun-shocked evenings in March
and slit seed-packets, buckled into spouts.
She palms and strokes and shunts them, via heart-line;
‘Winter Landscape, with Rooks’ by Sylvia Plath depicts a dark landscape. It’s used to symbolize how the speaker, and perhaps the poet, was feeling.
This poem describes one speaker’s state of mind through the metaphor of a dark, almost lifeless landscape. The speaker takes note of how fluidly a river runs through the different parts of a watermill. It is a dreary place, but there is some life there. A swan enters the scene and its purity in that moment strikes the speaker. It is out of place within the narrative, but at the same time makes sense.
‘Huge Vapours Brood above the Clifted Shore’ by Charlotte Smith describes a brooding storm the lighted paths of life one might choose to follow.
‘Huge Vapours Brood above the Clifted Shore’ describes a natural scene of a brooding storm, the darkness it casts, and the paths of life one might choose to follow. The speaker uses this scene as a metaphor, indicating that there are two lighted paths in the darkness, but if one were to follow these lights, they would surely drown. By contrasting these two situations, the speaker depicts how one can still succeed, even if everything seems dark.
‘Nightscapes’ beautifully captures the feeling of being isolated from nature that is common in urban environments.
This poem's primary interest is nature and its relationship to creativity. This poem emphasizes nature's role in the creative process, placing it as the most important muse of a poet or artist. However, nature lies in contrast to the speaker's urban surroundings, where she only has the memory of nature to inspire her.
If this was Donegal I wouldn’t be able to breathe for fear of swallowing stars…
PB Shelley’s ‘Stanzas Written in Dejection, near Naples’ describes the speaker’s dejection and how nature soothes his mood.
The speaker finds solace in nature's presence, feeling a sense of comfort and relief, stating, 'Yet now despair itself is mild, / Even as the winds and waters are.' He accentuates the transformative power of nature with lines, 'I could lie down like a tired child, / And weep away the life of care,' as if nature itself becomes a soothing embrace, offering solace to the weary soul in its lap. Withal, the poem emphasizes the everlasting joy of nature's beauty. The speaker contemplates that he will leave his loved ones sad after his death while the memories of natural beauty will always bring joy.
‘The Bight’ by Elizabeth Bishop describes low tide in a bight where birds, shattered boats, fishermen and the poet herself are part of the scenery.
This poem describes low tide in a “bight”, or an area of the shoreline that is curved inward. In describing the environment, Bishop takes note of fishermen and other creatures that create a chaotic but pleasing scene. The speaker describes how low the water in the bight is, and how it is impacting everything else around it. Animals and humans are both having difficulty navigating the low tide. Pelicans dive at the water like pickaxes, other birds circle above, and fishermen crowd together.
At low tide like this how sheer the water is.
White, crumbling ribs of marl protrude and glare
and the boats are dry, the pilings dry as matches.
‘Eventide’ portrays an aspect of the evening, which is peaceful hence the sunset nature giving people hope and consolation.
This serene concept is associated with Nature as the poem reflects on wonderful features of nature, such as the setting sun, the smell of flowers, and a still brook. The poem is written to express how nature provides comfort and consolation in the face of life’s unpredictable and difficult moments, implying that the world is a refuge where people can find solace and unity. Like the personification of rivers and trees, it re-establishes nature as a force that can feed the soul and evoke admiration.
‘The Eagle’ is a poem that captures the strength of the majestic bird, inspiring readers to reach for the heights of their own potential.
This is one of Tennyson’s shortest poems and one of his most famous. This verse presents the eagle as a powerful creature, alone and above the rest of the world. The singular focus on the eagle forces a reader to consider the creature and how it lives its life. Through this image, Tennyson prompts the listener to question their place in the natural world and their relationship with all other living creatures.
‘A Bird, came down the Walk’ by Emily Dickinson is a beautiful nature poem. It focuses on the actions of a bird going about its everyday life.
Nature is a very important theme in this poem, seen through the poet's description of a bird and its various actions. While the poem attempts to capture the beauty and wonder of nature, it also suggests that nature can be brutal, invoking ideas about the nature of death.
Wordsworth’s ‘Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey’ tells of the power and influence of nature in guiding life and morality.
Nature is the primary focus of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,' and the poem celebrates the beauty and power of the natural world. Wordsworth uses vivid and descriptive language to evoke a sense of wonder and awe towards the landscape around Tintern Abbey and to suggest the ways in which the natural world can inspire and uplift the human spirit.
Five years have past; five summers, with the length
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