Turtle Island Poem Analysis

In these poems from the collection Turtle Island by Gary Snyder, the themes of nature being a delicate balance, and humans needing to live in harmony with it, are evident.

“By Frazier Creek Falls” (page 41)

In this poem, Snyder talks about a beautiful natural landscape, describing it in a touching and loving way, and conveys the notion that everything together in the bioregion is alive. The way he describes it also suggests that it is delicate, and “trembling”, in other words it all exists in a delicate balance that Snyder says we can live with peacefully, “without tools or clothes”. If people can change their ways, and learn to live without destroying the environment, we can live with it, and become a part of it.

“O Waters” (page 73)

This poem is describing a mountainous area at night. It is presumable about the Nanao region in China. The poem talks about a peaceful natural mountain landscape, with water that washes over and renews everything. There is also mention of the snow on the mountains melting away, bringing the area back to life. Each line of the poems is spaced differently with some short and some long. However they are connected, sometimes at bigger points that others. This symbolizes how everything in this bioregion shares the same space and is connected in some way in a peaceful balance. The last three lines “great/earth/sangha” are centered under the rest of the poem. This style shows how the bioregion is a part that balances and is supported by the rest of the world. Sangha, an element of Buddhism, symbolizes how the bioregion and the world peacefully cooperate.

“Dusty Braces” (page 75)

“Dusty Braces” is a message from Synder to all the people that came before him, the “lumber schooners”, “punchers”, “miners”, “dirt farmers”, and “railroad-men”, who have been destroying the environment. Snyder uses harsh language, calling them “bastards” for the dirty work that they have done. He wishes that they had never done what they did, and that humans could live in harmony with the environment, being “sea roving/tree hearted” people. If people could do this, the world would be a better place.