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May We Learn from the Earth: Nature Poems and Reflections on the Environment

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Kindle Edition eBook. A timely and inspired book of nature poems and essays inviting us to contemplate, cherish, and learn about Earth, life, ecology, and the environment.

Following his acclaimed debut, The Humbling and Other Poems, Tiess delivers clear, captivating, and compassionate poetry contemplating Earth and nature.

From the opening poems, we become reacquainted with the natural realm, where we may muse on mountains, reflect on rivers, philosophize in forests, and celebrate creation everywhere.

As we journey into Earth, the Beautiful, studying its rivers, canyons, trees, and fields, we learn and grow more mindful of the environment, ecology, and eventually Earth, the Besieged.

Insightful, inspiring, and impassioned with a lyrical love of life, this timely and truthful collection can be enjoyed by nearly everyone, from budding poetry enthusiasts and nature lovers to environmental champions and beyond.

In hopes of encouraging environmental interest and awareness, the author offers optional reading content, including a series of brief but thought-provoking essays meditating on nature, a concise glossary of Earth terms, reading suggestions, and more for readers to discover and explore.

About the Poet: Recognized for crafting clear, classic, and compelling poems, Robert J. Tiess has been writing poetry since the 1980s. He is a SUNY New Paltz graduate, where he earned his degree in English Literature, and a lifetime resident of New York State, where he has enjoyed a fulfilling career in public library service. In 2022, his debut poetry collection, The Humbling and Other Poems , became available in print and electronic editions.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2023

15 people are currently reading
3642 people want to read

About the author

Robert J. Tiess

3 books23 followers

Robert J. Tiess is a poet from New York State. His acclaimed poetry has been featured most recently on the Late Night Poets radio show and AllPoetry. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz University with a degree in English Literature, he has been writing poetry since the 1980s and pursuing a joyful career in public library service since the mid-1990s. You can learn more about the author in The Humbling and Other Poems.

From the Poet: "I enjoy writing poetry of all kinds. Almost all of my poems are composed in hopes of being read aloud. My most frequent themes include: compassion, love, unity, empowerment, freedom, truth, equality, justice, tolerance, peace, gratitude, mindfulness, nature, individuality, humility, philosophy, spirituality, art, science, mythology, and imagination.

All readers are welcome, respected, and appreciated here. If you wish, you can follow me online at www.twitter.com/RobertJTiess and www.RobertJTiess.net. If you read any of my works, thank you."

The aspiring and inspired debut poetry collection by Robert J. Tiess. Over 100 memorable poems on humility, love, truth, peace, time, redemption, and hope. Includes Obsidian with Sheens of Gold, Interior Kingdom, The Song of Walt Is Our Song, Amid the Jersey Turnpike Whales, Love's Special Relativity, Tao, Withstanding, the Phoenix poems, and other fan favorites, along with new works. Also included: author biography, three brief essays, a glossary of poetry terms, reading suggestions, and more.

There are currently 5 editions of The Humbling and Other Poems:

1. Print: paperback edition (Amazon; ISBN-13: 9798986179513; ASIN: B09YVPDW8L)

2. Print: hardcover edition (Barnes & Noble; ISBN-13: 9798986179537)

3. Ebook: Amazon Kindle Edition (ISBN-13: 9798986179506; Amazon ASIN: B09YMPN6VW)

4. Selections from The Humbling and Other Poems: The Abridged Edition
Ebook: Amazon Kindle Edition / Kindle Unlimited
(Amazon ASIN: B0C71VYZCJ)

5. Ebook: Barnes and Noble Nook Edition (Barnes & Noble ID/EAN: 2940160717142)

6. Ebook: Kobo edition

Please visit the author's website for all links, book reviews, samples, news, and more.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
144 reviews27 followers
January 22, 2024
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

I loved Tiess’ poetry so much. I relished reading each one of them. He might have become my favorite contemporary poet! There was something just so fun and thoughtful about his poetry but they also weren’t abstract. They were easily understood and easy to reflect on. I almost wish the rest of the book was filled with his poetry rather than essays and suggested reading at the end.
Profile Image for Matthew Scigousky.
Author 7 books8 followers
July 17, 2023
Nature and Poetry to bring Awareness

Lots of depth and a strong connection to this big blue ball floating around in space we all live on. If you like poetry this is a creative way and different take on traditional poems. I can appreciate the work
Profile Image for Abbe.
24 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2023
I’m not a big poetry reader but got this as a goodreads giveaway book and loved it! Tiess’ language is so vivid it makes readers feel they are standing with him in the natural landscape. A combination of beauty, awe, and advocacy. Would highly recommend for poetry and nature lovers!
115 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2023
It's been a while since I've read anything that came close to putting my own thoughts into words. Five stars. No further comments.

** Note that I received a Kindle edition copy of this book from a giveaway on Goodreads. My opinion is my own and I did not receive compensation for this review.**
Profile Image for Alan Lewis.
420 reviews22 followers
January 5, 2024
Taking care of our home

A collection of ecological poems well worth the time to read and reflect. Includes a few short essays and listings of other resources for further contemplation.
This was a complementary copy via Goodreads Giveaways
Profile Image for Alicia Reads.
510 reviews44 followers
February 1, 2024
What a way to feel as one with nature! Robert J. Tiess brings all the feels with these epic nature poems. A way to let go of all your problems and just float into the unknown. Happy reading
Profile Image for Brenda.
1,111 reviews
December 29, 2024
This book really spoke to the tree-hugging forest bather in me! I enjoyed all of the poems but I really connected with a few, actually more than a few. The first half of the book is all poems divided into sections, the second half is more informational and includes links, lists of eco poets and nature authors, lists of recommended books which I will certainly be making my way through. I personally really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to other like-minded nature loving friends.
Profile Image for Nat.
269 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2023
I really liked the concept of this book, but the execution of it fell a little flat for me. Most of the poems just seemed like they were just there, not really about anything. They just happened to do with nature.
Profile Image for Justina Griffin.
62 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2024
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this book. The poems were beautiful, and inspired me to rethink nature around me as well as my place in it. I appreciated the educational book half, as well as the resources it provided.
Profile Image for Nevaeh Ramirez.
27 reviews
July 21, 2025
Beautiful !

The best thing about this book is the amount of readily available information given, about other artists, other activists, other books about other artists and activists and all the information given to you about the Earth and how to help it.
Profile Image for Amber Schreck.
10 reviews
August 3, 2024
If you like to hike through flat woodlands or up a mountain, bring this with you. It deserves that setting to be read in.
Profile Image for Gabby.
661 reviews
August 9, 2024
A lovely book that I kept by my bedside and picked up whenever I needed to escape.

So much information packed in these pages on the environment. A must read.
Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
4,805 reviews443 followers
May 12, 2023
In Robert J. Tiess's captivating collection, May We Learn from the Earth: Nature Poems and Reflections on the Environment, readers are treated to an exquisite and profound exploration of ecopoetry and the impact of human actions on our planet. With a sweeping range of topics, from the perspective of ocean-dwelling creatures to the natural composting of trees, Tiess leaves no stone unturned in his quest to celebrate and understand nature.

More than just a poetic anthology, May We Learn from the Earth also features a handy glossary, comprehensive lists of useful websites and books for further research, and other valuable resources demonstrating the author's commitment to educating and engaging his audience.

The beauty and eloquence of the poems in this collection are undeniable. Tiess's words reveal his wisdom, intelligence, and deep connection to the natural world. Rather than expressing bitterness or anger towards the environmental challenges we face, the author conveys a sense of mournful yet hopeful reflection on the damage humans have inflicted upon themselves and their surroundings.

The poems in this collection stand out for their accessibility and clarity. Eschewing the cryptic language often found in poetry, Tiess crafts verses that resonate with readers of all ages, even those as young as middle school students. His vivid descriptions of rivers, canyons, and trees bring readers into nature and allow them to experience all it has to offer. It renews the wonder that is often lost as people rush about in the world and grounds them in all that the Earth has to offer.

This comprehensive and informative work is filled with insightful observations expressed through beautifully crafted poems. May We Learn from the Earth serves as a delightful, thought-provoking, and educational introduction to the world of ecopoetry and nature-inspired verse.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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