Ecocriticism, Botanical Imagination, and the Analysis of Plant Life in Joe Ushie's Poetry

Abstract

This paper positioned within the context of ecocriticism, the environment, and literature, argues that Joe Ushie explores botanical imagination and plant life to reflect the 21^st century Nigerian reality; using some of Ushie's selected poems. This representation is not just depicted to signify death, threat, gloom or to justify an oppressive element of the environment. It is also captured as a healing balm, or an element of the environment that elicits love, creativity, succor, or hope in a dialectical human and environmental relationship. Ushie's poetic advocacy and imaginative thought using plants and their association with human beings, needs more critical focus dwelling within the literary corpus of contemporary studies. Eco-critical advocacy as applied in this paper, deals with how scholars use literature and nature, in relation to plants to investigate and invigorate ecological thought in relation to human issues. Botanical criticism, on the other hand, lays emphasis on the importance of plants in literature and argues that poets imaginatively explore plant life to symbiotically identify and express themselves in their poetry. Ushie's faith in plants lies in the process and cyclical development and representation of Nature as a presence, personality or existence; rather than as mere objects, medicinal herbs or mechanical operators. The main thrust of this paper hinges on plant ecology and its mode of interrelationships within a literary corpus. This paper concludes that Ushie is not just an ecologically conscious. He is also portrayed as a botanically-inclined and aware poet. Thus one perceives a rich ambiance and notable mastery of the flora and plant imagination in his poetry.

Keywords: Ecocriticism, Botanical Imagination, Plant Life, Joe Ushie's Poetry.