Kylie's Nature Blog

 In this poem, Mary Oliver explores the beautiful and comforting nature of the sun. Every morning, it rises from the other side of the Earth, brightening the world and everyone's day. At the day's end, the sun "floats toward the horizon", gradually dimming the world's light. She describes this process in a magical way, explaining how the sun rises up and down, almost as if it's levitating against Earth's gravitational pull. Without mistake, the sun rises and falls around the same time everyday. Even though someone's day may be hectic and unpredictable, there is always something they can rely on - the sun's illuminating presence. In a society full of twists and turns, this consistency provides a stable factor in everyone's life. This poem further explains in depth the many different backdrops the sun lights up behind. Each terrain offers a unique viewing experience. Along the water, the sun's reflection can be seen lighting up the waves, shi...

 I was excited to contribute more work in the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge this week. I figured that it would be a similar day compared to last week, but this was proven to be untrue. The day began the same as last, with gathering our supplies and beginning to sort through the brush. I got caught in some strong, thorny vines that almost tripped me a few times. My thick skiing pants and boots kept me save from any possible dangers of the wilderness. I spent minutes grabbing long privets with lots of branches attached, contemplating whether I was able to bear more weight or not. It amazes me how many invasive plants an environment can develop over a short span of time. As the sun beat down on us, the wood chipper sputtered multiple times and eventually stopped working, resulting in us stopping in our tracks and waiting for a solution. Eventually, we resorted to cutting down privet and carrying it to the roadside. I personally thought I was more helpful with collecting privet, ...

 This entry reminds me of my reaction experiencing waking up to snow for the first time in my life, which happened to be just last year at TCU. This poem documents the feelings and observations during the first snow of winter. Although this aspect alone would not make me relate as much, the mystical and awe-inspiring nature of the recount is something that I resonated with specifically. Oliver describes trees that glitter like castles and shinning hills as the snow forms and slowly melts away throughout the day. She explains how such a remarkable event brings up many questions about the meaning behind snow and how this has occurred. My favorite part of the poem comes at the end, when Oliver revisits this concept. She states that, "though the questions that have assailed us all day remain...walking out now into the silence and the light under the trees, and through the fields, feels like one". Although questions remain unanswered, the sheer appreciation for the beauty snow bri...

 This weekend, I visited Lake Worth with a group of friends for one of their birthdays. I had never been to Lake Worth before, so I was excited for the new adventure ahead. I enjoyed the unconventionality of this birthday party. Instead of simply having a night out, we would be journeying out into nature. We began our night with a delicious dinner at Flower Child at University Park Village. After this, we made the half hour drive to the lake. The busy streets and freeways of student-infested Fort Worth dwindled down into single lane roads and dirt paths. It felt like an entirely different city due to the drastic difference between the center of the city and the outskirts. We parked our cars and began our journey down the hill to the lake shore. The walk down to the lake felt like it took ages. The terrain, consisting of uneven dirt, rocks, roots, bushes, and trees, made it difficult to maneuver. Large rocks and sudden drop-offs made us resort to holding each others hands on the way...

 Last Tuesday, instead of meeting in the classroom, we ventured out into nature by convening in the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. As I arrived at the main gated entrance for visitors, I was told how to drive to our meeting point and given a map. I eventually found a small, wooden building after unconfidently driving along the gravel path.  Dr. Wood led us inside where I found a glass cabinet with shelves teeming with items collected from the land. These included animal fur, turtle shells, bones, and even a mysterious object in a liquid-filled jar.  After our arrival, we were given some information about what we would be doing, the supplies we would use, and how to safely complete our volunteer work. When I heard we would be using a wood chipper, I was shocked and nervous to say the least. I am not very fond of sharp objects, but with some reassurance and guidance from Nick and Hayley, I was put at ease. We were then escorted to our work location, at least ten of us...

 One of Mary Oliver's poems that particularly resonated with me focuses on the effect that time has on nature. In this specific poem, Oliver recounts her daily walks along the shore and the wildlife that she encounters. Along the coast are beautiful, spotless creatures with shells that haven't been withered down by the forces of the ocean. However, Oliver always draws her attention towards the whelks. These snails' shells have been broken and cracked over the years, resulting in them losing their pristine appearance. Nevertheless, Oliver seeks out the whelks and ponders upon the time they have spent on Earth, subject to the uncontrollable forces that exist.  My favorite line of this poem is, "I have been restless--I have felt there is something more wonderful than wholeness--than staying at home". Oliver metaphorically compares her life to the wildlife among the shore. In life, she can either stay at home and remain untouched, or spent her time outside enjoying wh...

 Last Tuesday, our class ventured on a journey to canoe in Benbrook Lake. I was nervous for this trip, as I have never canoed before and do not believe I have upper arm strength to control a canoe. As we jumped out of our van loaded with canoes, I was mesmerized by the vastness of the lake. I became eager to canoe as Ciara and I buckled our life vests, but we struggled to carry it down the hill towards the edge of the lake. With some help from the recreation center staff, we pushed off into the lake.  Suddenly, I felt as though our survival was completely out of our hands. It was a scary feeling to think that Mother Nature would determine our outcome. She certainly did not take it easy on us, either. As I tried to steer from the back of the canoe, the wind overpowered us and pushed us the opposite direction. We were taught never to go parallel to the waves, but this was inevitably our fate. Ciara and I laughed out of self-entertainment and fear. When I veered my focus away fro...