River Names: A Collection of Nature Poetry

by Michael J. Downing

Overview

Michael J. Downing is drawn to nature. "I love being outside," Downing says. "Hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, biking...growing peppers and tomatoes...cutting the grass. Doesn't matter, as long as I'm outside. In 1995, I bought a canoe and paddled down the Allegheny River at least a dozen times over the course of several years. Many of these poems reflect those experiences on those waterways." Pennsylvania's natural beauty serves-over and over again-as the primary focus of this poet's inspiration, his intimate reflections, his deep yearning for clarity and peace. Titles like "Shooting the Rapids" and "Renewal" pull the reader seamlessly into specific expressions of the natural world while traveling with the heart throughout this collection. He writes, "I hope these poems conjure elemental spirits and make you feel alive."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781961687042
Publisher:	Pretzel City Press LLC
Publication date:	07/08/2025
Pages:	66
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.18(d)

About the Author

Michael J. Downing teaches in the Professional Writing program at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. A former technical writer and professional journalist, he grew up in Western Pennsylvania and has spent countless hours fishing and exploring Lake Erie and its tributaries: Four-Mile, Six-Mile, and Walnut Creek. He has also spent a great deal of time investigating the Allegheny River watershed, including Oil Creek, Tionesta Creek, and French Creek. He is heavily influenced by Robert Frost and Mary Oliver, who boldly celebrate the powerful connection between humans and nature.