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The Peace of Wild Things
Jake Runestad | Poem by Wendell Berry

The Peace of Wild Things, by contemporary American composer Jake Runestad, is a poignant musical reflection of the poem by Wendell Berry. The poem portrays the speaker's struggle with despair for the world and fear of the future, ultimately finding solace in nature's tranquility. Runestad's composition captures the emotional journey of the poem, beginning with tension and uncertainty before finding serenity in the natural world. The pulsating piano accompaniment adds to the sense of movement and contemplation, with a move to the major key ultimately reflecting the restorative power of nature in times of turmoil.