Theme Seen in Gary Snyder's Poetry

     Gary Snyder uses the ideas of relative improvement in society and extreme industrialization as his main focus points for his poetry. From the four poems that I read out of his collection entitled “Turtle Island”, it is very clear to see that Snyder feels as though the humans have over-abused the Earth and all of her resources. As I read each poem that I selected, I noticed a trend. The people described in the poems were oblivious to what was actually going on in their world.

     In the poem entitled “Steak”, the people all go to this fancy steak that in reality is nothing special. The meat comes from meat plants and the animals are far from top-choice natural animals. The next poem I read was entitled “Front Lines”, a poem about humans clearing out trees and nature to build more unnecessary buildings and homes, as well as pollution being released into the air. “Tomorrow’s Song”, a poem about what the world has come to, further shines light on the faults of the human race over the past century.  The final poem that I read, entitled “The Great Mother”, depicts how people go through judgement once they leave the Earth and the Great Mother ultimately decides if the person has committed bad actions towards her and all living organisms that surround her.

     I found a theme of transition, from what the human race is doing to ruin the Earth and all of its wonder to the final destination of having to face the decisions that the human race made.