Tag: Landscape

Discover Landscape by slam poets, cowboy poets, and literary giants inspired by the state of Arizona on AZpoetry.com!

‘Benedicto’ by Edward Abbey

April 5, 2025

Benedicto: May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,
dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.
May your rivers flow without end,
meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells,
past temples and castles and poets’ towers
into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl,
through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock,
blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone,
and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm
where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs,
where deer walk across the white sand beaches,
where storms come and go
as lightning clangs upon the high crags,
where something strange and more beautiful
and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams
waits for you —
beyond that next turning of the canyon walls.

About the poet Edward Abbey

“Benedicto” by Edward Abbey is a poetic blessing for those who seek the wild, the unpredictable, and the profound. Written as a heartfelt invocation, the poem celebrates the beauty, danger, and mystery of the natural world. Abbey extends a wish not for comfort or security, but for crooked trails, endless rivers, vast deserts, and the kind of wilderness that challenges the soul while nourishing it. This is not a typical blessing—it’s a call to adventure, to embrace the crooked and uncertain path that leads to awe and discovery.

“Benedicto”, an excerpt from Earth Apples, captures Edward Abbey’s deep reverence for the untamed landscapes of the American Southwest, especially his beloved red rock canyons of Utah and Arizona. With rich and vivid imagery, Abbey describes a journey that winds through pastoral valleys, ancient forests, and surreal desert landscapes, all leading to a climactic vision of sublime natural beauty.

The poem reads like a mythic map—populated with castles, temples, tigers, and monkeys—yet rooted in the very real geography of the Southwest. His language is both lyrical and raw, oscillating between gentle pastoral sounds (“tinkling with bells”) and fierce natural spectacles (“lightning clangs upon the high crags”). Each line builds toward the final promise: that “something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you.”

This final line captures the essence of Abbey’s worldview. For him, the wild was sacred—a place of discovery, not only of nature, but of self. “Benedicto” is not only a blessing, but a challenge to those who would listen: to leave behind the safety of straight roads and seek the mysterious, spiritual truths that only crooked trails can offer.

Want to explore more of Edward Abbey’s poetry and his deep ties to Arizona’s landscapes?
👉 Click here to visit his poet bio page on AZPoetry.com and discover how Abbey’s voice continues to echo through the canyon walls and red rock trails of the American West.

Desert Rain by Mary Hunter Austin

March 8, 2025

“Desert Rain” by Mary Hunter Austin

High in the sierras,
All the smouldering summer,
Sudden the thunder!
Rain on the mountains,
Rain on the dry hills,
Spate in the gullies.

Manna of heaven
That lays the dust of the valleys,
Manna of heaven,
Working a miracle.

Rain on the desert,
Meagre and moldy,
Kissed into blossom;
Nourished to comfort
My heart and my valley’s
After the thunder.

About the poet Mary Hunter Austin

Mary Hunter Austin’s poem Desert Rain captures the transformative power of rain in arid landscapes, both literal and metaphorical. Set against the backdrop of the Sierras and the dry, desolate hills, the poem unfolds with the sudden arrival of a storm, breaking the long, smoldering summer with thunder and torrents of rain. The contrast between drought and renewal is at the heart of the poem, as the rain becomes a divine force—described as “manna of heaven”— bringing relief, nourishment, and even miracles to the parched land.

Austin’s imagery is strikingly vivid, depicting how the rain quenches the valleys, washes away dust, and revives the desert’s fragile ecosystem. She emphasizes how even “meagre and moldy” rain is enough to “kiss” the land into blossom, suggesting that even the smallest offering of sustenance can lead to profound renewal. On a deeper level, the poem speaks to human resilience and emotional restoration, as the rain’s “comfort” mirrors the way hope can emerge from hardship, much like the desert’s revival after the storm.

Austin’s Desert Rain is a celebration of nature’s delicate balance, a recognition of life’s cyclical struggles, and a reminder that even in the harshest environments, renewal is possible.

Learn more about Mary Hunter Austin and her literary legacy here on her poet bio page.

Arizona by Clarence Urmy

March 5, 2025

“Arizona” by Clarence Urmy

A land of mesas and of rocky spires,
Of wondrous canyons and eternal fires,
Of boundless spaces, mighty, grim, and grand,
Where silence keeps the secrets of the land.

About the poet Clarence Urmy

Clarence Urmy’s poem Arizona is a brief but vivid tribute to the breathtaking and untamed landscapes of the state. Through just a few lines, Urmy captures the grandeur and mystique of Arizona’s geography, painting an image of towering mesas, rugged rock formations, and deep canyons that seem to stretch endlessly. His use of language evokes both the beauty and severity of the land, emphasizing its vastness and the powerful natural forces that have shaped it over time.

The poem’s reference to “eternal fires” suggests the relentless heat of the desert sun, the glow of the setting sun against red rock formations, or perhaps even the spiritual and historical resilience of the land and its people. Meanwhile, the line “Where silence keeps the secrets of the land” speaks to the stillness of the desert, where time feels suspended and nature’s history is written in its vast, untouched expanses.

With its concise and evocative imagery, Arizona captures the awe-inspiring essence of the state—its grandeur, its isolation, and its quiet, almost mystical presence. Urmy’s work serves as a poetic postcard, inviting readers to stand in awe of Arizona’s wild and unyielding beauty.

To learn more about Clarence Urmy and his contributions to poetry, visit his poet bio page here on AZpoetry.com.

Desert Rain by John Gould Fletcher

March 1, 2025

“Desert Rain” by John Gould Fletcher

Across the burnished mesas
They march in lines of jade,
The thunder-heads assembled
To crush the light parade.

The shadow of their wingspread
Sweeps through the cañon’s door;
Out leaps a sounding fury,
And torrent floods the floor.

About the poet John Gould Fletcher

John Gould Fletcher’s Desert Rain captures the dramatic transformation of the arid landscape when a storm sweeps across the desert. The poem’s opening lines describe thunderclouds advancing like soldiers, their “lines of jade” contrasting against the burnished mesas—a striking image that emphasizes the rare yet powerful presence of rain in the desert. The storm is depicted as a force of nature both ominous and grand, gathering strength to “crush the light parade,” a possible reference to the sun’s dominance over the landscape.

The second stanza intensifies the sense of movement and power, as the storm’s shadow spreads through the canyon like great wings, darkening the land before unleashing a furious downpour. The rain floods the canyon floor, signifying both destruction and renewal. Fletcher’s use of vivid imagery and personification makes the rainstorm feel like a mythic force, breathing life into the desert while commanding awe and respect.

Themes and Literary Devices

Personification: The storm is given life-like qualities, with its “wingspread” casting shadows and its fury echoing through the canyon.
Contrast: The bright, sunlit mesas are overcome by dark, jade-colored storm clouds, emphasizing the dramatic shifts in the desert’s ecosystem.
Nature’s Power: The storm is both beautiful and destructive, showing the desert’s duality of harshness and renewal.

Fletcher’s Desert Rain is a brief yet powerful meditation on the rare storms that bring life to the desert, reminding readers of the unpredictable, untamed beauty of the natural world.

Discover More About John Gould Fletcher

John Gould Fletcher was a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and modernist, known for his vivid depictions of nature and experimental free verse. To learn more about his literary contributions and impact, click here to visit his full bio page.

The Song of the Sonoran Desert by Sharlot Madbirdth Hall

February 28, 2025

“The Song of the Sonoran Desert” by Sharlot Madbirdth Hall

Sharlot Madbirdth Hall captures the essence of the desert in her work, bringing to life its beauty and mystery.

Oh, land of the cactus and yucca,
Of towering rock and of sand,
Where silence is king of the daytime,
And the stars rule the night with their band.

Oh, land of the old and the mystic,
Of legends that linger and glow,
In the hearts of the men who have loved thee,
And the spirits that wander below.

About the poet Sharlot Madbirdth Hall

Sharlot Madbridth Hall’s The Song of the Sonoran Desert is a tribute to the timeless beauty, mystery, and solitude of the Arizona desert. The poem captures the essence of the Sonoran landscape, depicting a land where cactus and yucca stand resilient against the harsh elements, where towering rock formations and endless sand create a rugged yet sacred space. Hall presents the desert as a place governed by two forces: silence in the day and stars at night, emphasizing the region’s majesty and stillness.

The second stanza introduces a sense of history and myth, referring to the mysticism and lingering legends that make the desert more than just a physical space—it is a land imbued with stories, spirits, and the memories of those who have called it home. The poem conveys reverence for the land, acknowledging both the hardships and the deep spiritual connection it fosters in those who embrace its rugged beauty.

Themes and Literary Devices

Personification: Hall gives the desert human-like qualities, portraying it as a realm ruled by silence and stars, reinforcing its mysterious and almost otherworldly character.
Imagery: The evocative descriptions of towering rock formations, cacti, and an expansive night sky immerse readers in the Sonoran landscape.
Myth and History: The reference to “spirits that wander below” alludes to the rich indigenous and pioneer history of Arizona, as well as the ghostly presence of past inhabitants.

Hall’s poem serves as both a love letter to the Arizona desert and an ode to its storied past, capturing its grandeur, solitude, and enduring mystique.

Sharlot Madbridth Hall was a poet, historian, and Arizona’s first female public official, deeply devoted to preserving the state’s cultural and natural heritage. Discover more about her life, legacy, and contributions to Arizona literature by clicking here to visit her full bio page.

December in the morning Alberto Rios artwork | AZpoetry.com

December Morning In The Desert by Alberto Rios

December 8, 2024

The morning is clouded and the birds are hunched,
More cold than hungry, more numb than loud,

This crisp, Arizona shore, where desert meets
The coming edge of the winter world.

It is a cold news in stark announcement,
The myriad stars making bright the black,

As if the sky itself had been snowed upon.
But the stars—all those stars,

Where does the sure noise of their hard work go?
These plugs sparking the motor of an otherwise quiet sky,

Their flickering work everywhere in a white vastness:
We should hear the stars as a great roar

Gathered from the moving of their billion parts, this great
Hot rod skid of the Milky Way across the asphalt night,

The assembled, moving glints and far-floating embers
Risen from the hearth-fires of so many other worlds.

Where does the noise of it all go
If not into the ears, then hearts of the birds all around us,

Their hearts beating so fast and their equally fast
Wings and high songs,

And the bees, too, with their lumbering hum,
And the wasps and moths, the bats, the dragonflies—

None of them sure if any of this is going to work,
This universe—we humans oblivious,

Drinking coffee, not quite awake, calm and moving
Into the slippers of our Monday mornings,

Shivering because, we think,
It’s a little cold out there.

About the poet Alberto Rios

In this evocative poem, Alberto Ríos captures the serene intersection of humanity and nature on a cold Arizona morning. The imagery of a crisp desert landscape juxtaposed with the celestial movements of stars and the industrious hum of birds and insects serves as a meditation on the quiet persistence of life. Ríos subtly reflects on the human tendency to overlook the vast, intricate workings of the universe as we carry on with mundane routines.

To learn more about Alberto Ríos, Arizona’s first Poet Laureate and a master of blending everyday moments with universal reflections, visit his bio page here and delve into the life and work of this celebrated poet.

Zane Grey

December 4, 2024

Zane Grey: A Western Novelist’s Legacy in Arizona and Poetry

Zane Grey, one of the most celebrated Western novelists of the 20th century, left an indelible mark not only on American literature but also on the culture of Arizona and the genre of cowboy poetry. Best known for his gripping tales of the untamed West, such as Riders of the Purple Sage (1912), Grey captured the rugged beauty, moral complexities, and frontier spirit of the American Southwest. While primarily recognized as a novelist, Grey’s creative endeavors extended to poetry, as exemplified by his evocative poem Recipe for Greatness. His connection to Arizona, along with his contributions to Western literature, continues to inspire writers and poets in the state and beyond.

Early Life and Journey to the West

Born Pearl Zane Grey in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1872, Grey initially pursued a career as a dentist, following in the footsteps of his father. However, his passion for storytelling and adventure eventually steered him toward writing. In 1907, he published his first novel, Betty Zane, inspired by the life of a family ancestor. Though moderately successful, it wasn’t until the publication of Riders of the Purple Sage that Grey cemented his place in literary history.

Grey’s deep fascination with the American West was sparked by his travels to Arizona and other frontier regions. His vivid descriptions of Arizona’s canyons, deserts, and mesas became hallmarks of his work, often functioning as characters in their own right. Grey spent a significant amount of time in Arizona, particularly in the northern part of the state, where he found inspiration for many of his novels. His frequent visits to the state allowed him to interact with cowboys, ranchers, and Native American communities, further enriching his understanding of the region’s culture and history.

Zane Grey’s Impact on Arizona Writers and Cowboy Poetry

Grey’s novels were instrumental in popularizing the American West, painting a romantic yet gritty picture of the frontier that resonated with readers worldwide. This legacy had a profound influence on Arizona writers, particularly those in the tradition of cowboy poetry. His ability to distill the ethos of the West—its values of resilience, independence, and justice—served as a model for countless writers and poets who sought to celebrate the region’s unique identity.

Though Grey is often categorized as a novelist, his works occasionally revealed a poetic sensibility. The imagery in his writing often bordered on the lyrical, and his love for the land is palpable in his descriptions of Arizona’s landscapes. This poetic quality bridged the gap between prose and verse, inspiring cowboy poets who sought to capture the spirit of the West through rhyme and rhythm.

Grey’s forays into poetry, while less prominent than his fiction, reflect his ability to express complex ideas with simplicity and elegance. His poem Recipe for Greatness, for instance, embodies the values of perseverance and moral strength that are central to his body of work. While Grey didn’t primarily identify as a poet, pieces like this demonstrate his versatility as a writer and his deep understanding of the human spirit.

Legacy in Arizona

Zane Grey’s relationship with Arizona extended beyond literature. He owned a cabin near Payson, Arizona, where he spent time writing and immersing himself in the state’s rugged landscapes. This cabin served as a retreat and a creative haven, influencing many of his works set in the region. Although the original cabin was destroyed in a wildfire, a replica now stands in Payson, serving as a museum dedicated to Grey’s life and legacy.

Grey’s influence on Arizona’s literary and cultural heritage is profound. His novels helped shape the popular image of the American West, and his appreciation for the state’s natural beauty encouraged readers to view Arizona as a place of adventure and mystique. Cowboy poets and Western writers in Arizona often cite Grey as a foundational figure, someone who brought the spirit of the frontier to life and elevated it to an art form.

Zane Grey’s Continued Relevance

Today, Zane Grey’s works remain a cornerstone of Western literature, and his influence extends beyond novels. His stories have been adapted into over 100 films and television series, further solidifying his legacy. For cowboy poets and Western writers, Grey’s ability to capture the essence of the West—its landscapes, characters, and values—continues to be a source of inspiration.

By publishing Recipe for Greatness alongside his novels, AZPoetry.com celebrates Zane Grey not just as a novelist but also as a poet whose words reflect the timeless ideals of the West. Whether through prose or poetry, Grey’s work reminds us of the enduring power of storytelling and its ability to preserve the history, culture, and spirit of the American frontier.

Conclusion

Zane Grey’s legacy as a Western novelist and occasional poet is inseparable from Arizona’s cultural history. His vivid portrayals of the state’s landscapes and people continue to inspire writers and poets to this day. With his poem Recipe for Greatness, Grey demonstrates that his creative talents extended beyond fiction, offering readers a glimpse into the values and principles that guided his life and work. By remembering Zane Grey through his poetry, we honor not only his contributions to literature but also his enduring connection to Arizona and the American West.

Let Zane Grey’s words remind us of the greatness that can be achieved through perseverance, creativity, and a deep love for the land. Read Recipe for Greatness and experience the poetic side of this Western legend.