Review of The Wild in You by Lorna Crozier

Lorna Crozier is a Canadian poet, an Officer of the Order of Canada and winner of numerous awards including the Governor General’s Award. Ian McAllister is a winner of the North American Nature Photography Association’s Vision Award and co-founder of the wildlife conservation organization Pacific Wild. These two talented and passionate artists collaborated in 2015 to bring a stunning coffee-table book entitled The Wild in You.

I feel the photography and poetry combine to honour the sacred – the land, the sea, the animals and plants that live along the Pacific coast from the tip of Vancouver Island to Alaska. Some of the photos, such as moss-covered cedars and orca in a spray of light, are majestic; others are whimsical, like the drowsy bear quietly eying the photographer or the otter afloat (whose accompanying poem is aptly entitled “Water Needed a Laugh”). McAllister must become an intrinsic, non-obtrusive part of his environment in order to capture moments such as these.

Crozier defines her role in the introduction to the collection: “Like the best of photographers, poets strive to translate what the eye sees, but also what the soul catches and holds up…” and I believe she has accomplished this.

The book offers challenges to the reader, seated comfortably on our couches in our electrified and heated homes – how can we maintain our standard of living and safeguard the delicate environment of this land?

I think this collection nudges us all to listen, to see, and to hear. And ultimately, to care.

Reviewed by Josephine LoRe