Hill is the author of a collection of poetry, has published widely in poetry journals, and is an associate editor for a university communications department. In the following essay, she contends that the point of Schnackenberg's poem is to show the controversial naturalist in a favorable, gentle light in spite of those who would condemn him as a heretic.

When Charles Darwin wrote his autobiography in the latter part of his life, he included a section on his religious beliefs. He considered the topic at length and in the end claimed to be agnostic, basing his decision on the idea that the true origin of life cannot ever really be known by living beings. While it is true thatDarwin did not adhere to the Bible as a document of literal history, he did express a respect for the ideals of morality and philanthropy described particularly in the...