Alice McMurtry 6/3/25 Alice McMurtry 6/3/25

Poetry with a Purpose: “Poems for Endangered Places” by the Plein Air Poets of San Luis Obispo County

This book was a gift from my mother—one of those quiet treasures that waits for the right moment to open your eyes and heart. As I turned its pages, the poems became more than just words—they were invitations. To slow down. To listen. To look again at the places we pass by, and to recognize what we stand to lose.

Reading “Poems for Endangered Places” stirred something deep in me. These verses—written outdoors, in the very landscapes they honor—carry the weight of witness and the grace of gratitude. They remind us that poetry, like nature, thrives in presence. It asks nothing but attention. It offers everything in return.

The videos I created to accompany these poems are more than just creative projects—they're love letters to the land, captured in voice and view. Each one holds a memory, a moment, and a prayer for preservation.

Hello BookLovers,

Sometimes, a book finds you at just the right time. Poems for Endangered Places by the Plein Air Poets of San Luis Obispo County was a gift from my mom—a quiet gesture that turned into something deeply meaningful. This isn’t just a poetry collection; it’s a tribute to the landscapes we love and the need to protect them.

Created by a group of local poets who write “en plein air”—that is, outdoors and on location—this anthology is filled with poems that feel grounded, immediate, and alive. Each piece reflects a personal relationship with a particular place in San Luis Obispo County, from misty coastline trails to sunlit oak groves. These are poems written with feet in the dirt, eyes on the horizon, and hearts tuned to the natural rhythms of place.

As I read through the collection, I was inspired to create a series of poetry reading videos. These videos hold a special place in my heart. They allowed me to merge voice, image, and environment into a living expression of what the Plein Air Poets set out to do: connect art to place and feeling to purpose.

“The tide speaks in salt and silence— / How long until no one listens?”
—from Poems for Endangered Places

There’s something powerful about poetry that isn’t just beautiful, but also purposeful. These poems are full of memory and reverence, but they also carry urgency. They ask us to stop, to see, and to care—before the places they honor are gone.

Poems for Endangered Places reminds us that poetry can be an act of preservation. It’s a way to hold on to the vanishing, to bear witness, and to speak on behalf of what can’t speak for itself.

If you love poetry, nature, or simply believe in the power of words to make a difference, I encourage you to seek out this book. Whether it’s gifted to you, like it was to me, or discovered on your own path, it’s the kind of collection that stays with you.

Where to Find the Book:
Look for it in local bookstores throughout San Luis Obispo County, or at events and readings hosted by the Plein Air Poets. You can also follow their work through regional arts and environmental organizations.