We continue the poetry theme here at Garden Variety....

This morning National Public Radio featured Stanford's John Felstiner, author of Can Poetry Save the Earth?, a collection of English and American poetry about the natural world.

The hosts asked Felstiner to choose one poem that would save the earth if everyone were to read it. He chose the folowing: The Well Rising, by William Stafford

To read more poetry from his collection, and to hear NPR's interview with the author, visit the NPR Web site.

The well rising without sound,
the spring on a hillside,
the plowshare brimming through the deep ground
everywhere in the field —

The sharp swallows in their swerve
flaring and hesitating
hunting for the final curve
coming closer and closer —

The swallow heart from wing beat to wing beat
counseling decision, decision:
thunderous examples. I place my feet
with care in such a world.