Lucille Lang Day: Leveraging Poetry For Environmental Causes

Beginning in 1982, Lucille Lang Day has published ten books of poetry, including Infinities, which moves from the birth of the universe to inner space. Residing in Oakland, California, she is the mother of two daughters and grandmother of four. She is of British, Swiss/German, and Native American descent.  Day is co-editor, with Ruth Nolan, of Fire and Rain: Ecopoetry of California, for which they are donating the proceeds to seven environmental organizations. Her honors include PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Awards in 2013 and 2017 and the 2014 Blue Light Poetry Prize. With a B.A. in biological sciences, M.A. in zoology, and Ph.D. in science education, as well as degrees in English and creative writing, Day brings together the keen observational sense of a scientist with the compassion of a poet.

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Poetry & Planet is produced by Ethan Goffman. Dana Gioia’s “Rough Country” and Jane Hirshfield’s “Today, Another Universe” are read by R. Michael Oliver.  Musical excerpts from “Elements of Life” and “Earth Revisited” are written and performed by Reginald Cyntje, with vocals by Christie Dashiell. Aural interludes are by Douglas Harvey.

The opening poetry chorus is voiced by Jomo K. Johnson, Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, Marianne Szlyk, and R. Michael Oliver.

“Rough Country” appears with permission from Dana Gioia.

“Today, Another Universe,” © Jane Hirshfield, is from Ledger, forthcoming from Knopf, spring 2020, and originally published in Terrain.org