Turtle Island


The readings from Turtle Island were a blend of poems and short essays containing common themes. Snyder demonstrates his belief that humans are only a part of the world, and not necessarily the most important one. He believes that if we can get back to our old roots then we will have more respect and a better understanding of the environment. Theses poems and short essays all have a common voice of restoration of land, becoming native of the land, and thinking about how our actions effect the environment. Nature is a sensitive and delicate balance, and humans need to learn to coexist with it. If the planet is to survive and continue being a healthy place to live, all natural inhabitants must work together in order to produce the best result.

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