The poetry of nature

"The poetry of earth is never dead,” said John Keats when he wrote ‘The Grasshopper and the Cricket’ in 1816. More than 200 years later, even with the natural world facing the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, his words ring truer than ever. Because everywhere, there is still extraordinary beauty in nature.

From the women in this image slowly gathering water lilies from the waters of the Mekong River in Vietnam, to the murmurations of starlings that shape-shift Europe’s skies in Winter, and even dew sparkling on a spider’s web, these natural sights and experiences repeat, through the seasons, the years and the centuries.

The reassurance of their cyclical return offers something almost as important for humans’ survival as the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink; it nourishes our mental wellbeing. In fact, research shows that time spent in nature has a direct impact on mood, attention span, stress levels – and ultimately quality of life.

When we talk about protecting the natural world, the implied intention is usually to protect its resources; but the less tangible benefit of our joy at seeing and experiencing the wonders of nature is almost as vital – and also worth fighting for.

This award-winning photograph is from ‘Water’, the ninth season of the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) Archive. The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA, leveraging the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.