One could be negative and say I'm stuck, or one could be positive and say I'm on a roll. Saturday and Tuesday I posted about the daily walks I've been taking and I shared pictures of my discoveries. Wednesday I shared a non-fiction picture book about the painstaking work done by a scientist in the field, this time, a "new" island off the coast of Antarctica. Time, curiosity, imagination all play a role in my quest, along with a love of nature.
Then, after a couple of days of clearing shelves and rearranging my office, I found an old article I had saved from the New York Times, "Finding Zen in a Patch of Nature". It feels like a small extra "push" to keep going, see what more I can find and learn!
From this article: "You can live a perfectly happy life having never heard of Shakespeare, but your life is in some ways a little diminished because there's such beauty there. And I think the same is true of nature. Much of it is useless to us, and that's O.K. It's not true that every species that goes extinct is like another rivet off the plane and the plane's going to crash. We lost the passenger pigeon and the U.S. economy did not tank. But we lost the passenger pigeon and we lost some of this remarkable music made out of atoms and DNA."
"The Earth has its music for those who will listen." George Santayana
 |
| on my walk to the library |
Winter’s List
shadow tableaus
sunshine days
winding paths
wandering ways
patterned rocks
fallen cones
birds in flight
flutter zones
bits of snow
lots of freeze
grass rustles
in the breeze
rusty leaf
loss of fall
acorn stash
squirrel’s mall
rotting log
insects wait
hidden lives
hibernate
time to see
outdoor fair
wonders wait
in open air
Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved
"flutter zones" - LOVE!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your intentions and your actions and your words - all the noticing in all of these. And I wish my office were as cleaned up as yours probably is right now...
My office has improved, and I have discovered a few nice surprises I had forgotten (tehe). Now that it's organized, time also to pare it all down! It's hard! Thanks, Robyn, hope January has warmed up for you in more ways than the weather!
DeleteWonders do await us, don't they? You are making the most of Winter's list! Nice rhythm, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tabatha, I'm always looking for them!
DeleteI love this list of winter treasures found! I am glad you listened to the nudges that came your way and paid attention and shared them with us!
ReplyDeleteHappy that you enjoyed them, Kay. Thank you!
DeleteI like how going for a walk can shake loose the weight of the world, let it slide off. This tree was here before I was born. It still leaves up every spring and feels the squirrels madly scurrying every fall. I don't have that same sense of continuity from the news.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel, Brenda. I never get bored walking among the trees, or just watching my old cottonwood out my window. Thanks!
DeleteThat's a great quote you set off your poem with, "The Earth has its music for those who will listen." That's what it's all about, slowing down, hearing, looking, taking nature in, and listening. That's what your poem speaks of slowing down and taking it all in. I liked this stanza,
ReplyDelete"rotting log
insects wait
hidden lives
hibernate"
I'm wondering where my backyard cottontail has gone, if its off hibernating in a burrow.
Thanks for your "Winter's List" journey Linda, and the pic of the tree too!
I didn't include them, but our rabbits are still here, and a coyote comes rambling down the street once in a while, yes, a coyote! The city is a habitat, too, though it's not the best choice for the animals I think. Thanks, Michelle!
DeleteI love "a squirrel's mall." Who knows what they've stored and where. I've written about that today, too, in my post about the subnivean zone. -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Christie, can't wait to read your post! Thanks!
DeleteI think you are on a roll. Like me, you find such inspiration in nature. Your poem inspires me to try this form. Is it yours? Happy walks in nature. I hope to be out walking agin this afternoon. Time for the deep freeze to do away.
ReplyDeleteNo particular form, just happened, Margaret! I hope you do get warmer. We are very warm today, then snow coming Sunday! Crazy winter!
DeleteOh that everyone could see the beauty in our world as you do! Your writings are such a peak inside your heart and an inspiration to see the small things around us.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love being outside with you, too!
Deletebits of snow
ReplyDeleteI've been loving the bits of snow this week. The snow we got on Wednesday is still falling from the trees and is delightfully sparkling in the winter sun. You've captured the season so well!
When you discover the secret to paring down, let me know! ;-)
We are supposed to be over 60 today, then those "bits" are coming on Sunday. As for paring down, sometimes I'm just moving the stuff to another place. Ha!
DeleteThank you for your list of winter wonders, Linda! I appreciate the reminder to get outside, slow down, & pay attention. Today's Wisconsin weather forecast predicts a good day for a walk. I'm eager to be on my way!
ReplyDeleteI know you do get out, JoAnn. Enjoy your walk!
DeleteWonderful going along with you on a winter walk and seeing the world through your eyes. I, too, love "flutter zones"!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama. I'm off today with the grand-girls, perhaps 'walking' in a new place?
DeleteBeautiful poem and images. Makes winter sound amazing. Though I am not agreeing it is right now :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is challenging, especially when one has to drive out somewhere. But mostly, it holds good things, at least to me. Thanks!
DeleteI love the last couplet. Whenever I see a really spectacular flower garden, I always think, wow, look at all the time and energy that went into making something without any more purpose than being beautiful and available.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a giving thing to grow flowers, I agree, Liz. Thank you!
DeleteI love all the "hidden lives" in your poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth, for a new way to look at it.
DeleteI too am in love with your 'flutter zones', and 'squirrel's mall'. Delightful! And I'm in awe of a tidy office - but can relate to the challenge of paring down. There is potential in everything and for sure (as recently exemplified here) as soon as you throw something away, you need it! Hope you do better than me with that one. :)
ReplyDeleteI do struggle to say certain things are rubbish, things that may serve a creative purpose. Guessing that's the teacher in me, but I saved certain things when I wasn't teaching, too. I know what you mean, Kat. Thank you!
DeleteBeautiful! What a wonderful concept - something doesn't need to "serve a purpose" to serve a purpose - making our world a little more colourful, or peaceful, or beautiful, or inspiring can be purpose enough!
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is true, Jane. It would be nice for all of us to understand that. Thanks!
DeleteWhat a beautiful journey you describe in this post....being stuck, cleaning & sorting and finding, being inspired, getting outside and finding treasure to write about. You literally have the arc of a picture book in this post. My favorite line from your poem is loss of fall. It's kind of the beginning of your story....all the pretty leaves down. But, you are looking, sorting, cleaning up. What a writer you are!
ReplyDeleteWow, Linda. It would be fun to have a picture book for students especially to show what they might find when going "out"! Thank you!
Delete"wonders wait/in open air" Truer words were never spoken. This is a hard time of year to get outside. I noticed yesterday that it was still light enough for a short walk at 5 in the afternoon. I love all the images you gathered for your poem, Linda, especially those "flutter zones." Thank you for this wise, wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteYes! It is getting lighter, and good for those of you who are coming home from work! Thanks, Catherine.
DeleteThis post speaks to my heart and all that I love about spending time in nature. The Santayana quote has already been copied into my quote notebook and I've read your poem several times, enjoying different aspects of it with each reread. I'm off to read the NYT article now. Thanks for this wonderful, rich post!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Molly. I was very happy to find that quote! Hope you enjoy the article and have a great weekend!
DeleteLinda, your noticings and wonderings are so beautifully depicted in your poem. Thank you for sharing your love of nature as you see it in Denver. This stanza:
ReplyDeletebits of snow
lots of freeze
grass rustles
in the breeze
and the last one stand out to me. They are visually appealing!
Thanks, Carol, winter has been quite a variety this year, warm, cold, and today, a snowstorm! I am happy for the snow; moisture!
DeleteI enjoyed the quote you have there "The Earth has its music for those who will listen". The cold weather is definitely giving us "lots of freeze" and snow-free day is on my winter list!
ReplyDeleteWishing for you! We have snow today, and I imagine some are happy and some would wish it came on Monday! Thanks!
Delete