Seeing the Wind (Part 1)

First of a series--poetry as a way of seeing that transforms everyday wonders into a call to preserve and cherish our wild places.

Feb 23, 2025

In the picture above a blue tit appears to be sending smoke signals as it braves sub-zero temperatures in a park in the city of Petrozavodsk, Russia.

Mikhail Kalinin, 34, an electric locomotive engineer, spotted the chirping bird's condensation rising from its beak when the temperature dipped below -5 degrees Celsius.

This picture has gone viral.

Why?

Because something registers in us—something beyond a bird exhaling in the cold air. It makes us feel something. This tiny messenger of hope, a sturdy creature breathing beauty into the frozen air of Russia. How amazing!

Seeing the image in this way is poetic vision, transforming it from a simple winter scene into something more. Poetic vision is a way of seeing differently.

Poetic vision transforms a picture of a blue tit singing in sub-zero weather into something that catches at your heart, brings you back to yourself, fills you with wonder

Poetic vision is not a pretty way to see the natural world; it is a way to see into the essence of it.

Poet Naturalist John Muir

John Muir, revered as the Father of National Parks, discovered his passion for nature at an early age.—as a boy in Scotland he listened to his father reading poetry and Scripture. He tells us that this opened his young mind to the wonders of the natural world and stirred his imagination, causing him to fall in love with wild places.

Years later, driven by this love for the wild places, he walked into a forest of giant sequoias on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California—and was never the same.

Native Americans knew of these majestic trees, but it was Muir’s poetic description and heart-pounding awe that brought their grandeur to the wider public, forever changing how we cherish and protect our wild places.

He compared sequoias to living cathedrals, a metaphor that captured the silent hymn of these trees. Muir’s moment of personal awe was the spark that ignited a lifelong commitment to preserving the wild places.

He credits those early experiences sitting as his father’s knee and hearing poetry and Scripture read.

Teach Your Children Poetic Vision

While John Muir might seem an exceptional instance, he’s not.

Seeing to the heart of things is a common theme in the autobiographies of naturalists, oceanographers, lepidopterists, foresters, wildlife biologists, and countless others. Their writings speak of poetry, expressive lyrical texts, and Scripture that was read to them as children—a spark of wonder inspired by an adult who read to them.

How do we teach our children to have poetic vision like this…and invite them to preserve and care for the natural world?

In a word—poetry.

Poetry invites children to look beyond the outer appearance and discover its intrinsic beauty—its essence. Like John Muir and so many others who preserved and cared for the natural world, it began with poetry.

Through rhythmic words and vivid imagery, poetry transforms a simple tree, a bubbling brook, or a field of wildflowers into living stories filled with wonder. It teaches children that what they see on the surface is just one part of a richer, deeper truth waiting to be explored.

Your children will save what they love; poetry teaches them to love the natural world. But, first, they must have time outdoors and a lyric view of life best found in poems.

Bringing Children to Poetry

Just as we take children into the woods, the fields, and the rivers to experience the wonder of the natural world, we must also bring them to poetry—to the words that give voice to that wonder. A child who learns to see nature poetically does not just name a tree; they feel its presence, its movement, its deep-rooted wisdom.

This way of seeing nurtures not only appreciation but reverence, and from reverence comes the desire to protect. When we teach children to see the world with poetic vision, we are not just shaping future conservationists—we are giving them a source of meaning, healing, and connection. Nature, when truly seen, saves us as much as we save it.

The next time you step outside, try this simple Muir-inspired practice:

Walk without hurry. Let your eyes wander, your breathing slow.
Pause at something small. A tree branch moving in the wind, the way the sunlight catches a leaf.
Listen. What do you hear? Wind through the grass? A bird’s call?
Describe it poetically. Instead of “The tree is swaying,” say, "The tree lifts its arms to the wind." Instead of “It’s cold,” say, "The air hums with winter’s breath."

Poetry is not about fancy words—it is about seeing. And when we learn to see as Muir saw we begin to live more fully, more deeply, more in tune with the world around us.

Stay Tuned for Part 2: Seeing the Wind

In my next post, I'll share more on poetry and nature, plus book recommendations, and creative ideas for inviting children into the world of nature and poetry. You’ll love it and be inspired!

Just Published—Winter Nature Study Guide

If you're looking for a way to bring seasonal nature study into your home or classroom, my resource Winter Nature Study: 25 Fun Activities Exploring Wildlife, Hibernating Insects, and Hidden Habitats is now available at my Nature Study Store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

This guide is filled with engaging activities that help children observe, explore, and connect with nature during the colder months—proving that winter is just as full of wonder as any other season!

What’s Inside?

Winter Nature Study invites readers to explore the hidden wonders of the season with hands-on observation and discovery. Learn how animals survive the cold in burrows, fallen trees, and logs, while insects and amphibians endure winter through overwintering eggs and galls. Observe microclimates, track animals in the snow, and explore life beneath frozen ponds. Discover the resilience of winter birds, the beauty of snowflakes, and even the invertebrates inside our homes.

Each chapter includes hands-on activities to help children observe, explore, and record their findings, fostering a love of nature study all year round.

🌿 Find it here: Winter Nature Study