Wild Atlanta - by Stephen Wing (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For over a decade, Atlanta poet Stephen Wing has been exploring the city's many hidden pockets of wild nature with a group of fellow poets. These poems offer a sampling of the riches he has found there- treasures worth preserving as the city expands its footprint of concrete and powerlines. Photographer Luz Wright has captured portraits of the magical places depicted in Wing's poems through the unique perspective of her lens. The result is a luminous collaboration of word and image, imagery and vision, natural beauty and human imagination. Winner of a 2023 "Artist's Project" award from the City's Office of Cultural Affairs, this unique coffee-table book features 39 poems and over 100 photos chronicling 23 urban wildspaces in all four quadrants of Atlanta and beyond, with a one-page prose introduction.

Review Quotes

"Finally, Atlanta's urban forests receive the tribute they deserve with this blend of inspiring poetry and radiant photographs. The pages glow with the evident love that Stephen Wing and Luz Wright have for the subject matter. . . . As a biology teacher, I can see how this could serve as an interdisciplinary preview for literature and science students as they prepare for field trips to Atlanta's woodland preserves."

Mark Yates, Ph.D., Decatur, science educator

"Wild Atlanta rambles along the pathways of the city's hidden, untamed spaces. It reveals, in exquisite detail, a deep awareness of our essential humanity and personal connection to the natural world. . . . Wild Atlanta reminds us that we are meant to dwell within the natural world, not apart from it."

Sherri L. McLendon, M.A., Atlanta, marketing consultant

"Wild Atlanta encapsulates the tranquility and splendor of these sanctuaries, bringing us back to the stillness that we crave. . . . the photography and the poems settled me: They shifted my focus . . . centered me. They're beautiful."

Sibongile B.N. Lynch, Atlanta, civil servant & writer

"How have I lived my entire life in Atlanta and not seen all the magnificent places featured in this book of poems? Through Wing's words and Luz's splendid accompanying photos, I have been taken to amazing places and spaces in my own hometown made sacred. Wing and Luz have also taken me back to places where as a child I ran free during family outings. Atlanta is indeed fortunate to have someone who loves these Wild Atlanta spaces as much as Wing clearly does."

Anna Foote, Atlanta, non-profit professional

"I love being in wild natural places and Wing's poems take me there! . . . I love the way he captures our movement from the busy city-scape into the wild pockets of preserved nature in Atlanta. As the city sounds fade, and our feet lead the way in, these precious places consume our senses and ignite our imagination!"

Leigh Wallace, Woodstock, mother & activist

"I believe forests are places of healing. The practice of "Forest Bathing" (or Shinrin-yoku) invites us to physically connect with nature, touching the dark soil, feeling the spray of water on our skin, and breathing in the exhaled breath of the trees.,, Stephen Wing's Wild Atlanta will inspire you to step out onto the trails of our city and perhaps look at nature in a new light. . . . His writing gives us a new lens through which to view our city. Coupled with Wing's verses are another lens - the beautiful photography of Luz Wright. As you soak in the words of Wing's poetry, you can marvel at Wright's images that use contrast, composition, and lighting to illuminate the details of these Atlanta forests."

Jonah McDonald, storyteller, TV host, park ranger, author of Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests: Intown and Out

"Stephen Wing's collection is more than just a book of poems. Wing paints images in our minds with greens, greys, and reds as vibrant as the beautiful photos that accompany the words. It's clearly a love letter to all the beautiful, sacred, and often secret places. What's found there is a haven from the hustle, yes. But it's also a journey, a place of worship, and a challenge to be a better person . . . As an Atlanta native his words bring me to tears, not only for their eloquence and ability to capture the essence of what I've experienced, but also as a reminder of what may never be regained if we allow it to be lost."

Noah Glassman, Sandy Springs, realtor