In “The Planners” the relation to nature is shown through, the non-presence of nature itself. The subject is mentioned early in the poem, through “They plan. They build.” These short, direct sentences, metaphors for the direct, limited creativity that lies in the minds of the Planners, not only immediately establishes the idea in the reader’s mind, but also sums up the poem, all of which add to its significance. The poet goes on to emphasize the pedantic nature of the planners through effective use of mathematical vocabulary, like the “gridded” spaces and roads in “alignment”. This is forceful, as it shows us how they have the power to shape and modify a city any way they want, as well as the fervent influence of logic, and lack of creativity in their work. The dominance of the Planners is further enhanced through their manipulation of nature, so much that “even the sea draws back” and “the skies surrender”; personification of nature giving in and bending down under the weight of the Planners.
