To hear it, we have to
be there, over time
tune an ear to the song
sparrow at sunrise,
the great horned owl at dusk,
reminding us
not to miss the trees
for the theory of the forest,
turning an old saying
around a child’s observation,
the simplest question
opening the world again.
Diane Thiel has published twelve books of poetry and nonfiction. Her latest book of poetry, Questions from Outer Space, appeared in May 2022 from Red Hen Press. Her work has appeared widely in journals such as The Hudson Review, The Harvard Review, and Poetry and is reprinted in over sixty major anthologies. Originally from Miami Beach, Florida, Thiel received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brown University. A Regents’ Professor at University of New Mexico, her awards include PEN, NEA and Fulbright Awards. With her husband and four children, Thiel has traveled and lived in Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia, working on literary and environmental projects. She lives in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque and also has a place in Miami. Visit her at dianethiel.net.
"Time in the Wilderness" by Diane Thiel is from Questions from Outer Space (Red Hen Press, 2022). Reprinted with permission from the author and the publisher. This poem first appeared in The Festival Review.
Diane Thiel’s latest book is Questions from Outer Space Red Hen Press, 2022. Visit with her and her work at the Miami Book Fair 2022 on 11/20 at 2:30 pm in Room 6100. Cover art by: Vladimir Kush, Open World.
Welcome to SWWIM Every Day’s preview coverage of Miami Book Fair (MBF) 2021! The poets whose work you’ll be reading every weekday from October 25 through November 12 are just a few of the many authors from around the world participating in this year’s MBF, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. They all look forward to sharing their work, thoughts, and ideas both in person and online. Between November 14 and November 21, new poet conversations and readings will be launched and available for free on miamibookfaironline.com (in addition to other content). For more information, visit the website and follow MBF on Instagram and Twitter at @miamibookfair and use the hashtag #miamibookfair2021.