Through an analysis of key examples of Guillén's use of nature throughout his poetry, this article presents the argument that they all are fundamentally rooted in a configuration of nature as a living being and in an understanding of humanity's place as part of nature. For Guillén, nature is not simply something that he merely appreciates as a theme; rather, it is a vital element central to his view of the worid and to his development as a writer. The collections examined here are West Indies, Ltd., El son entero, and La paloma de vuelo popula.