Themes of Gary Snyder

Gary Snyder Poem Themes (Second Reading)

     As I continued to read poems out of Turtle Island by Gary Snyder, I have found a new theme that Snyder uses frequently in his writing. After a class discussion, I now have more background on Gary Snyder and his writing style. In his poems, Snyder describes world issues that need to be handled as soon as possible but he attacks these issues with a voice of calm reason, influenced by his affiliation with Buddhism. The poem entitled "For the Children", Snyder ends with a stanza of peaceful guidance and advice saying "...stay together...learn the flowers...go light..." (Snyder 86). Snyder emphasizes the need for unity and the necessity for a re-kindled bond between Wilderness and Civilization. Earlier in the book, Snyder talks of the incomparable beauty of nature and how all of the naturally occurring processes go on unnoticed. “All that moves, loves to sing…the roots are at work. Unseen” (Snyder 65).

     It is interesting to see that while Snyder acknowledges the faults of humans, he clearly depicts what the lives of humans is like. After reading “WHY LOG TRUCK DRIVERS RISE EARLIER THAN STUDENTS OF ZEN”, I was unsure of Snyder’s stance. These log truck drivers are partaking in environmental devastation and yet Snyder confesses that “There is no other life” (Snyder 63). It was unclear if Snyder is excusing the humans’ behavior by saying the actions of humans are pre-determined and therefore the humans have no control or if Snyder is saying that humans care or realize that other life forms exist.