Champions of Nature
From a series by Jeanne Malmgren on Substack of flash interviews with people she admires, people who are doing something—anything, a lot of things—for the Earth. These folks walk the walk, each of them in their own way, using their unique skillset. They dedicate their energy, their time, and their hearts to a crucial cause: the preservation of this precious planet we call home.
Glenis Redmond has a way with words, and words have their way with her.
She writes about many things, including “the weighted history of the red clay South.” Often she’s spinning poems about the fragility of nature, its beauty, and how her ancestors have historically been barred from enjoying that beauty. She signs her e-mails with “Yours in Verse…”
Originally studying to become a clinical psychologist, Glenis veered into the world of poetry as a young working mother in the 1990s. She has created, hosted, and won poetry slam competitions, garnering national awards along the way, and taught writing workshops in classrooms all over the country. She describes herself as a performance poet and a griot—a storyteller in the African tradition. She is the first Poet Laureate of the City of Greenville, South Carolina and a Teaching Artist at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2022, she was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors, the state’s literary hall of fame. Earlier this year, she received South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, The Order of the Palmetto, which is bestowed by the Governor to recognize a person’s lifetime of achievement and service.
Despite living with chronic illness and now cancer, Glenis is a joyous person. She tends a robust flower garden and shares her delight in nature with the next generation. Several years ago, she launched a project of visiting every state park in her home state, accompanied by her grandson Julian. Their travels have taken them from the Lowcountry to the mountains and inspired two books of poetry: Over Yonder: A Poet’s Exploration of South Carolina State Parks and The Song of Everything: A Poet’s Exploration of South Carolina State Parks II.
Here’s what Glenis shared with me about her lifelong connection with the natural world, and the solace it provides for her. And … a special treat … she shares some poems with us!
Poet Teaching Artist
