Poems for Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day 2023, staff from across the University of Reading have shared their own poems on the theme of ‘re-imagining our world’ and climate research.

Pen Cabot, Business Development Director at the Walker Institute, the University of Reading’s interdisciplinary climate research centre, has contributed a poem called ‘Futility of Despair’. Pen said:

“As we come together for Earth Day, there remain significant gaps between the science of climate change and our grasp of what it means for us and our planet.

Poetry, a form of communication familiar to us all, provides a unique avenue for sharing knowledge, insights, and sometimes complex information in an accessible way.”

This year, the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA), which represents the leading research universities in climate science, is organising a Slam Poetry Festival. Reading’s Earth Day poems have been inspired by this festival, though poets have used traditional poetic forms and techniques.

Poet Peter Robinson, Professor of English and American Literature at the University of Reading and poetry editor for Two Rivers Press, has written a poem called ‘God or Nature’ especially for the occasion.

Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, created a poem called ‘Broken Record’ entirely from news and media coverage in which she has been quoted.

Alison Arkell, who works at the Institute for Environmental Analytics, and describes herself as a 'secret poet' makes her public debut with a moving poem addressed to her children, 'Suncream in December'.

Karín Lesnik-Oberstein, Professor of Critical Theory in the Department of English, makes a powerful call to action in her poem ‘Not’.

Selva Dhandapani, an Environmental Scientist in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science, celebrates the beauty of the River Thames in ‘To walk by your side’.

Reflecting on the value of poetic responses to climate science, Pen Cabot said:

“How can poetry inspire positive responses to the climate crisis? How can the science be made more accessible through the written and spoken word? How can art create cohesion and community, enabling us to not only reimagine – but also to strive towards – a more beautiful future?

These are questions we are exploring this Earth Day, hoping to generate more connections between science and poetry as we consider a planet transformed.”

Read, watch and listen to all the Earth Day poems here.

Read more about the IUCA Earth Day 2023 Slam Poetry Festival here.