Upon Learning That: A collection of poetry based on facts about the natural world

by Alex Dawson

Genres: Poetry

178 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2025

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea behind this collection of poetry from around the globe was to use interesting facts about the world (upon learning that...) and turn them into poetry, both in an exercise of wonder and curiosity in a time filled with fear and hate, and in an attempt to make poetry more accessible for those that "don't get poetry". I adore this idea. And I - although I read a lot of poetry, have published a poetry collection and am well on my way with a second - am also one of those people that sometimes feel like I don't get poetry. When it gets too abstract, too technical or scholarly or too focused on pretty words to the detriment of meaning, it loses me. I prefer my poetry to be raw, intimate, devastating, hopeful, and to open a new door, a new way of thinking. There are definitely a lot of poems in this collection that fit the bill. Since it features work of 70 (?) different poets, there are admittedly also a whole bunch that didn't really reach me, as I'm a bit of a critical reader and poetry has to speak to my emotions or imagination for me to engage with it.

I bought this book mainly because I adore Alex Dawson (both as a poet, photographer and human being) and her book All these Living Things is one of my all-time favourite books of poetry. So it was no surprise that Alex's own poems were some of those that spoke to me the most. In particular I loved "Upon learning that the word "witch" comes from the Old English "wicce" meaning "wise woman"" (admittedly it also reminds me a lot of my own poem "A Witch floats"), and "Upon learning that blue whales have stopped singing" - heart wrenching in the best kind of way.

My favourite poem in the rest of the collection is probably "Upon learning that it takes a year to break a wild horse" by Jillian Stacia, which has some of the raw gut-punch quality of Alex's whale one. What can I say? It hurts so good. I also have a good 10 other poems bookmarked, and they are all by writers I had never heard of before. What a great way to discover new (to me) voices and learn some cool (and yes sometimes worrying) facts about the world. I approve.

[Amber Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe. Of the world, its artists, and all our wild wonder. And I am absolutely honored to be included in such a stunning body of work.

These poems are a tribute to everything wonderful, wretched, and living. I have learned so much about the world and how we move through it; how we perceive it, cherish it, and hold it in our own bodies.

This book combines poetry and science, metabolizes fact into fruit, wonder into art. It is everything I love about humans and poetry, sharing one thick spine. I want to weep at its tenderness and tenacity.

If you love the world, if you’re feeling hopeful or hopeless, if you’re loving or grieving and everywhere in between, there is something for you living in these pages. I promise.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetry collection for all. The format of these poems lends to a unique experience. I find myself looking to the natural world for meaning and metaphor, then -- wanting to write. I love that poets are meaning makers, or rather, just paying attention to what already exists. My father, who has never written poetry, read this collection and found himself pondering on a cloud he saw while driving to work. He thought of how it accumulates and exists just on the edge of being seen and unseen. When he got home that night, he wrote a poem about it (a wonderful poem, I might add) and sent it to me! It was so freaking cool. I might add-- I have a poem published in this collection. It's a thrill to be included in such a gorgeous collection and one of my favorite publications to date.

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful collection of poems, and I'm honored to have one of mine included among them.

"Upon Learning That" is a fascinating collection, with each poem offering a fun fact (a lot of which are nature related) and what that fact inspired in an individual poet. Each poem is a surprise, a unique perspective, an ode.

Alex Dawson did an amazing job curating and designing this collection. It's perfect for new and seasoned poetry readers alike. Definitely a book I will be pulling off my bookshelf every now and then when I need some inspiration or connection.