Ecology and Climate Change

The speaker of this poem, and the character in wider media, is deeply rooted in a near-religious mission to protect the earth. Though often vilified by those around her, Poison Ivy sees herself as doing important work that no one else is brave enough to do. She entreats understanding for this mission in the opening lines: “You can see, can’t you, the appeal of such a world – lush with growth, / an earth empty of men’s trampling?” (Lines 1-2). Here, “men” are painted as the enemy because of their negative effect on the environment and their entitlement to natural resources. This character is particularly effective because she reaches the fears that are beginning to emerge in response to our changing world.

After reflecting on how she came to be, the speaker offers concrete arguments to support her reasoning: “voices under soil, / buried...