Quartz from the Uplands

** "Quartz from the Uplands" by Lewis McKenzie Turner is a reflective poem from the early 1900s that explores what it means to be human, how society is built, and why nature is key to finding your place in the world. The poem looks deeply at the worth of honesty, what one person can do in their community, and a strong demand to stand up against not caring in today's world. It's like a powerful speech, waking people up from just going through the motions, pushing them to be involved with what's around them and to question the rules that hold back their imagination and unique qualities. The poem shows clearly the troubles of people being crushed by factories and the widespread desire for money that traps them in lives where they can't reach their dreams. Turner constantly argues for getting close to nature as a way to gain wisdom and motivation, advising people to share what they see through real storytelling, and ultimately aiming for an honest telling of human stories among the problems of society. **