Nature has long been a source of inspiration for poets, who have sought to capture the intricate beauty and repeating patterns found in the natural world. From the cycles of the seasons to the delicate movements of birds, nature offers a vast array of patterns that speak to the interconnectedness of all life. In this article, we will explore 14 famous poems that reflect on patterns in nature, each offering a unique perspective on how these natural rhythms inform our understanding of the world around us.
1. “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” by William Wordsworth (1798)
Excerpt:
“And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean, and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man.”
Analysis:
In “Tintern Abbey,” Wordsworth reflects on the patterns of nature and how they evoke a sense of harmony and interconnectedness. The repetition of natural elements—the setting sun, the ocean, the sky—forms a continuous cycle that links the natural world with human consciousness. The poem is a meditation on how these patterns are not just external, but also deeply felt within the mind, resonating in a way that elevates human thoughts. Wordsworth sees nature’s patterns as a profound source of renewal and spiritual insight, reminding the reader of the harmony between human life and the natural world.
2. “A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman (1867)
Excerpt:
“A noiseless patient spider,
I marked where on a little promontory it stood, isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever untried, ever seeking the light,
Ever so anxious, so patient,
And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in the middle of the world,
Pondering the difference between the wood and the sky.”
Analysis:
In “A Noiseless Patient Spider,” Whitman explores the natural pattern of a spider weaving its web and parallels it to the soul’s quest for meaning and connection. The poem compares the repetitive actions of the spider with the inner movements of the soul, both seeking to understand their place in the vast, empty space of existence. The spider’s continuous, patient weaving is symbolic of the human search for unity and the connection between the individual and the universe. Whitman highlights the cyclical nature of exploration, both in the natural world and in the human experience.
3. “The Tyger” by William Blake (1794)
Excerpt:
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
Analysis:
“The Tyger” is one of Blake’s most famous works, asking profound questions about the patterns in nature, particularly the balance between beauty and danger. The “fearful symmetry” of the tiger is a metaphor for the underlying patterns of creation, which are both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Blake suggests that the creator of such a powerful being must have had an immense, perhaps unfathomable purpose. The tiger’s symmetry is not just physical but also symbolic of the patterns that exist in the natural world, patterns that are both divine and enigmatic.
4. “The Snow Man” by Wallace Stevens (1921)
Excerpt:
“For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.”
Analysis:
In “The Snow Man,” Wallace Stevens explores the theme of perception and the way humans impose meaning on the natural world. The poem suggests that in order to truly understand nature, one must strip away preconceived ideas and see the world as it truly is—without the layers of interpretation. The “nothing” in the snow represents the emptiness and purity that lies beneath the surface, a kind of natural pattern that exists independent of human perception. Stevens’ exploration of this theme reflects the natural world’s inherent patterns, which are untouched by human expectations.
5. “Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1819)
Excerpt:
“O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,
Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,
Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou
Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed
The wingèd seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave, until
Thy trumpet shout’s on the other side of the world.”
Analysis:
Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” reflects on the cyclical patterns of life and death, symbolized by the autumn wind. The wind is portrayed as a powerful force that drives the decay of autumn, yet it also carries the seeds for new life. Shelley’s meditation on nature’s recurring cycles of destruction and rebirth echoes larger patterns in the natural world, where death gives rise to new life. The wind is a metaphor for the uncontrollable, yet inevitable, patterns of nature that drive both life and death.
6. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost (1923)
Excerpt:
“Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.”
Analysis:
Frost’s short but poignant poem captures the fleeting beauty of nature’s patterns, using the metaphor of early spring leaves. The “first green” is symbolic of youth or the beginning of something precious, but it quickly fades. The cyclical nature of life—where beauty and newness inevitably give way to the passage of time—is reflected in the natural world. Frost reminds us that change is an inherent pattern in nature, and nothing—no matter how beautiful—can last forever. This universal theme touches on the impermanence of life and the inevitability of natural cycles.
7. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth (1807)
Excerpt:
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
Analysis:
Wordsworth’s iconic poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is an ode to the beauty of nature and its ability to uplift the human spirit. The poet marvels at the pattern of daffodils in the valley, which seem to “dance” in the wind, creating a scene of joyful repetition. The pattern of nature—whether in the waving of flowers or the movement of clouds—invokes feelings of connection and renewal. Wordsworth reflects on how nature’s patterns offer solace, peace, and a reminder of the beauty that exists in the world.
8. “A Bird Came Down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson (1862)
Excerpt:
“A Bird came down the Walk—
He did not know I saw—
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.”
Analysis:
In this poem, Dickinson observes the natural pattern of a bird’s actions, from the mundane act of eating an angleworm to the deeper connection between all creatures. The bird’s patterns are simple but significant, reminding us of nature’s ongoing, unreflective cycles. Dickinson’s keen eye captures the bird’s rhythms, which seem both effortless and purposeful. The poem subtly reflects on the larger interconnectedness of nature—how every living thing follows its own set of patterns, from feeding to flight.
9. “The Garden” by Andrew Marvell (1681)
Excerpt:
“How vainly men themselves amaze
To win the palm, the oak, or bays,
And their unfeathered hopes pursue;
Oh, who would know the pleasure of the dew?”
Analysis:
Andrew Marvell’s “The Garden” is a meditation on the peace and simplicity found in nature, contrasting it with the complexity and striving of human ambition. The poem’s focus on the natural world highlights the patterns found in gardens, where life grows in harmonious cycles. Marvell suggests that the patterns of nature—particularly the stillness and order of a garden—offer a deeper form of fulfillment than the restless pursuit of worldly success. The poem speaks to the idea that the patterns in nature are a guide for how one should live: with patience, grace, and acceptance.
10. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (1845)
Excerpt:
“Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.”
Analysis:
While “The Raven” is often read as a gothic tale of grief and longing, its structure and repeated patterns (such as the refrain “Nevermore”) reflect the relentless cycle of obsession and despair. The raven itself, a recurring figure in myth, represents the patterns of death and sorrow that the narrator cannot escape. Poe’s use of repetition mirrors the narrator’s futile attempts to make sense of his emotions, much like the eternal patterns found in nature that continue without heed for individual suffering.
11. “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop (1955)
Excerpt:
“He didn’t fight.
He hadn’t fought at all.
He hung a grunting weight,
battered and venerable and homely.”
Analysis:
In “The Fish,” Bishop observes the complex patterns of life, struggle, and survival. The fish, caught and exhausted, represents a creature that has lived through countless cycles of life, wariness, and escape. The poem’s attention to detail—the scars and markings on the fish—demonstrates the patterned history of struggle and survival that each creature carries. The fish’s endurance is a metaphor for nature’s ability to adapt to and persist through ongoing cycles of challenge and renewal.
12. “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams (1923)
Excerpt:
“so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.”
Analysis:
Williams’ minimalist poem draws attention to the patterns of simplicity and connection in nature. The red wheelbarrow, seemingly insignificant, is imbued with meaning through its relationship with the rain, the chickens, and the cycle of life that depends on it. The poem suggests that everything in nature, no matter how small or humble, follows a pattern of interconnectedness, and that beauty can be found in the simplest of forms.
13. “The Daffodils” by William Wordsworth (1804)
Excerpt:
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
Analysis:
Wordsworth’s poem celebrates the beauty of nature, particularly the recurring pattern of daffodils blooming in the spring. The daffodils’ movements—appearing to “dance” in the breeze—mirror the inner joy of the poet. Wordsworth uses this scene to emphasize how nature’s cyclical patterns, such as the coming of spring and the blossoming of flowers, resonate with the human spirit, providing a sense of peace and renewal.
14. “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1851)
Excerpt:
“He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.”
Analysis:
Tennyson’s brief but powerful poem describes the majestic patterns of an eagle perched high above the world. The eagle’s solitary and commanding position reflects a natural pattern of power, isolation, and observation. The cyclical movement of the eagle as it soars across the sky embodies the freedom and dominance of nature’s patterns, which are both awe-inspiring and humbling.
Conclusion
The patterns in nature, from the rhythmic motion of the wind to the delicate weaving of a spider’s web, have long captured the imagination of poets. Through their verses, these 14 poets explore the cyclical, repetitive, and interconnected patterns found in the natural world. Nature’s patterns offer solace, provoke thought, and connect us to a larger, more universal force. Whether through the beauty of a flower, the movements of a bird, or the passage of time, these poems remind us of the enduring rhythms of the world around us.
