Parks, Poetry, and the Democratic Spirit Nature, that boundless reservoir of human inspiration, finds its most democratic outlet in our parks and public lands. The inspiration for a poem, a song, a painting, or even a new understanding of ourselves, flows from these special places like rivers of energy feeding our creative spirit. That flow may very well be the ultimate expression of a peopleas strength, speaking not just of nature, but of freedom, pride, opportunity, and hope. A Park Is a Poem on the Land is one park poetas message that our public parklands are not simply for recreation but are national treasures beyond measure.