Answer:
i think i had this question before and if im not mistaking its preposition. it could be a conjunction also!!!
Explanation:
Environmental determinism is the belief that the environment (most notably its physical factors such as landforms and/or climate) determines the patterns of human culture and societal development
Environmental determinists believe that it is these environmental, climatic, and geographical factors alone that are responsible for human cultures and individual decisions and/or social conditions have virtually no impact on cultural development.
The main argument of environmental determinism states that an area's physical characteristics like climate have a strong impact on the psychological outlook of its inhabitants.
Thomas might have been using both meanings in the poem so that he can show how kind he is.
