Buzz Words: Poems About Insects

Insect poetry is a rich tradition that spans many cultures and centuries, with poets from the West, China, Japan, and Europe inspired by the tiny creatures that share our planet. From Donne, Marvell, Keats, and Wordsworth to Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Christina Rossetti, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, Ted Hughes, Paul Muldoon, and Alice Oswald, the poets collected here showcase their diverse talents in celebrating insects.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 04 March 2021
Publisher: Everyman

Given the sheer abundance of insects, which outnumber humans by a staggering factor of approximately 200 million to one, it is not surprising that a rich body of verse has been dedicated to these fascinating creatures that share our planet. Across numerous cultures, centuries-old traditions of insect poetry have flourished. In China, during the Tang dynasty, noblewomen cherished crickets and inspired countless songs in their honor. The haiku masters of Japan, too, were captivated by insects, extending their appreciation to less appealing bugs like houseflies, fleas, and mosquitoes. In the Western world, poems about insects can be traced back to ancient Greece, and they continue to feature prominently in European literature from the 16th century onward. The poets showcased in this collection span a wide range of literary giants, including Donne, Marvell, Keats, Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Christina Rossetti, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, Ted Hughes, Paul Muldoon, and Alice Oswald. Furthermore, their verses have been translated into multiple languages, with notable contributions from figures such as Meleager, Tu Fu, Ivan Turgenev, Victor Hugo, Paul Valéry, Pablo Neruda, Antonio Machado, and Xi Chuan. The variety of insects featured on these pages is equally remarkable, encompassing bees, butterflies, beetles, cockroaches, caterpillars, fireflies, dragonflies, ladybirds, and glowworms. Each of these miniature creatures possesses its unique charm and has been celebrated through the poetic lens of countless talented writers.

Weight: 226g
Dimension: 117 x 164 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781841598215