Summer Reading: Silver in the Wood

Continuing a summer time exploration of contemporary folk literature, I recently picked up Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh. A slight 105-page volume, Silver in the Wood is a revisualization of the Green Man motif packed with vivid imagery of ancient forests filled with mythical creatures and love found then lost. Set in the “primeval forest” (35) of Greenhollow Wood, our story starts when Tobias Finch, the Green Man mystically tethered to the forest, offers shelter from a rain storm to a handsome, affluent young man, Henry Silver. Henry is an inquisitive young man who is the lord of a nearby village who fancies himself a “practical folklorist,” and as such, his interest in Tobias is immediate.

One need come to the text with zero background regarding the Green Man. I read Silver in the Wood simply as a folk tale and found it to be a brisk, very engaging experience. Many of the archetypes one would expect to come across in a traditional folktale are present (mother, woodsman, etc.), but with a slight twist. Advance online reading also revealed to me that Tesh's piece is also considered a representative of LGBTQ literature, I would presume based upon the clear attraction between the two male leads.

The inherent loneliness experienced by both main characters (one isolated by wealth and the other by purpose) serves as the basis of their attraction. Of such circumstances, romance often blooms. The love Henry and Tobias share feels pure, and very complicated, a state of affairs that also rings true in many relationships, romantic and otherwise. Surprisingly, despite its brief page count, the relationship between the two main characters seems earned due to the slow dance they must go through toward one another without their combined trials growing toward a traditional happy ending.

From the onset, we learn that Tobias, as the Green Man, has become accustomed to living a solitary life, so much so that he “could not even recognize a handsome lad suggesting a bit of mutual entertainment anymore” (14). Eventually, Tobias warms up to Henry’s flirtations eventually recognizing his good fortune in “be[ing] flirted with by a pretty young fellow who wore expensive coats.” (30) The romance in Silver in the Wood is subtle and very psychological (spiritual?), which, for this reader, heightened the level of intimacy shared by them. Tesh vividly describes certain character interactions in such a manner as to infer a physical attraction between the two. Like good literature should, Tesh's fairly uncomplicated narrative offers a number of different lenses or experiences in which to engage and enjoy the text.

I quickly devoured the text for purely entertainment purposes (the best reason to read!), though as certain elements and characterization came into view I had to resist the urge to begin annotating and analyzing. I look forward to recommending and sharing Silver in the Wood with others.

Roadie: Dawes Glacier, Alaska

Into the Endicott Arm. (7/1/2019)

It's been two weeks since our return from an Alaskan cruise and I am beginning to miss it. On days such as today, where it is forecast to be 90°+ and humid, pictures of our Alaskan trip bring a sense of calm cool. Ironically during our time North, their temperatures were at historic high. When our ship was near the base of the Dawes Glacier (pictured below) we heard what sounded to be an extremely loud thundercrack. It was the ice falling away from the face of the glacier. Given the rate of climate change, and its obvious impact on the world around us, that may very well be the sound the world makes as it dies. Sorry to be a bummer; fortunate we had an opportunity to see it before it diminishes too much more.

Dawes Glacier terminates in the waters of Endicott Arm and together these two sights are classic glacier visits for those travelling to Juneau.

Anne and I up at 6 a.m. to view scenery as the ship heads down 

Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

When turning, many vantage points from all directions came
into view. (7/1/2019)

Seals on ice could be seen on floating ice as we approached the glacier. (7/1/2019)

The deeper the blue hue, the older the ice; that is a very old
piece of ice to the lower left hand corner! (7/1/2019)

Former parts of the Dawes Glacier, now set adrift. (7/1/2019)

The water, full of varying degrees of minerals and other things due to 

glacier melt, seems to change color. (7/1/2019)

Mountains and valleys without end. (7/1/2019)

Dawes Glacier stands over 200 feet tall, with another 250 feet of glacier hidden below water. Tourist ship captains who commonly travel this area are trained to maneuver the ship to make two complete turns on a dime, slowly spinning what he called “doughnuts” so that no matter where you were on the ship, at some point during the spin all guests will be facing the glacier. Our captain was no different, and did an excellent job delivering on his promise.

The Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

Close. (7/1/2019)

Closer. (7/1/2019)

Closest! (7/1/2019)

Making our way back up Endicott Arm
and on to Juneau. (7/1/2019)

(7/1/2019)

Roadie: Whale Watching

7:30 a.m. heading toward the Tracy Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

During our 7 day cruise of Alaska, we had two opportunities intended for whale watching. These were times during which we were all but promised to see humpback whales. While neither disappointed, we also numerous humpback whales while sitting on are balcony drinking coffee or simply walking on deck. The first chance was as our ship passed through the Inside Passage and took a pass by the Tracy Arm Fjord. Later tha day we took part in a three hour whale watching tour off the coast of Juneau. During this time we saw six whales including Flame (a mother) and Bunsen (her calf). Whales are identified by the notches in their fluke (shape of the tale).

The day before going to Juneau was an "at sea day" which meant there would be no leaving the vessel for about 24 hours. At 6:30 a.m. the following morning, guests were invited to go out on deck as the ship moved into the Inside Passage. In addition to getting close to the

Waiting for whales, seals and glaciers. (7/1/2019)

Seals were very common travelers on the pieces of ice--the did not 

stick around to pose too frequently though. (7/1/2019)

When whales are around, every inch of the boat including 

the heli-pad becomes a potential viewing area. (7/1/2019)

Many seals could be seen from the deck bathing in the early 

morning sun. (7/1/2019)

Lots to see... 360 degrees of beauty. (7/1/2019)

The very early morning seemed the best time to get better 

pictures of flukes! (7/1/2019)

Later that day we arrived in Juneau and headed out on a whale watching excursion. Tourism is the primary commodity of Alaska and that is never more apparent than when looking for whales. The captain of our boat chose not to crowd in with other boats of tourists so as to not startle the whales. We came across a number of groups in the same general area all awaiting a peek at the humpbacks.

In Juneau, the humpback's dorsal fin appears first followed ...  (7/1/2019)

.. soon thereafter by the fluke. (7/1/2019)

Television would have you expecting to experience a Free Willy moment wherein a whale jumps over the boat and you can raise your arm to rubs its belly. This is not whale watching but rather, fantasy. Our experience was equally rewarding but not nearly so photogenic at least my this not-so-good photographer. It was incredibly enjoyable to just watch for groups of birds close to the water (a sign of possible whale activity) and wait a glimpse of the amazing creatures.

Many tourist boats hoping to glance a whale. (7/1/2019)

Clean shot of humpback's fluke. Note the unique notching on 

the tail by which individual whales can be identified. (7/1/2019)

Humpback whale fluke just prior to turning up. (7/1/2019)

Humpback resting before diving. (7/1/2019)

Back to shore following three hours at sea... would have happily 

stayed longer! (7/1/2019)

Ubiquitous Birds Post-Windpocalypse

American robin on tree branch. (3/10/17)

It has been months since taking my camera (and not the picture taking function of my cell phone) out for a walk but conditions being what they have been the past 48 hour this morning seemed a good time to do so. Following upstate New York's Wind Storm 2017, we and 100,000 of our neighbors find ourselves without power and I find myself with two days off from school. There are only so many hours one can listen to local politicians pat themselves on the back for being such amazing public servants during a catastrophe, so the silence of the trail provided a welcome break.

Emptied pond on Erie Canal. (3/10/17)

A short drive up the road from the Comfort Inn we have relocated to for the (sadly) foreseeable future, the Lock 32 Canal Park is part of a path I am very familiar with both walking and running with my wife and children. I did not really anticipate seeing too much of great interest beyond the traditional barren terrain of the emptied canal bed, but was pleasantly (okay, really) glad to come across some common park birds. It was like seeing old friends after a long absence. Amongst the creaking trees and polar winds, it was heart-warming to come across a few wood peckers, robins and crows on my short trip down the canal trail...

American robin on the ground. (3/10/17)

American robin keeping watch. (3/10/17)

Erie Canal in Winter-time. (3/10/17)

Pileated woodpecker doing his thing. (3/10/17)

Pileated woodpecker. (3/10/17)

American crow. (3/10/17)

Crows. (3/10/17)

Downy woodpecker. (3/10/17)

Duped water birds in winter. (3/10/17)

Reviewing the Old Ways the Old Way

Original box for Gary Synder's audio book The Practice of the Wild (1991).

Despite his voice being a touch higher than I recall, perhaps due to the tape being too tightly wound on a long undisturbed cassette, The Practice of the Wild cassette book is very much how I recall the poet sounding back in 1991 when I heard him speak at Nazareth College. At least I think it was Nazareth College. While cleaning out the attic a few weeks ago, I came across a small collection of books-on-tape that I purchased shortly after  graduating from college with my undergraduate degree in English Literature/Secondary Education. Among them was the aforementioned double cassette. In an age of digital sound, listening to the tapes took a little effort, especially as we, like most American homes, have converted everything to CDs and digital download. After procuring my late father's Walkman, I was ready to take another walk in the woods...

Like many college English Literature majors, I was introduced to the work of Gary Snyder in an introductory poetry course, and as a young man growing up in an urban neighborhood attending Catholic elementary school, the content and perspective was exotic and new. At the time, I had not traveled beyond the freeway connecting our home to my relatives' outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the idea of anyone espousing a belief system outside a Judeo-Christian one was unfamiliar to me. Snyder's poetry then was a gateway to the larger school of thought he represented and further (if not a touch more concretely) articulated later in a number of essay collections. If the earlier Earth House Hold (1969) or Myths and Texts (1960) appealed to the revolutionary spirit most moderately embrace in undergraduate studies, the nine essays that comprised The Practice of the Wild spoke to the adult domesticity I found myself accepting as a parent shortly after graduation.

The Practice of the Wild (1991) double cassette runs 3 hours and is a traditional book on tape in that its contents reflect those of the original text, published a year earlier in 1990. Having the text read by Snyder lends an added sense of gravitas and nobility to the its already comforting and airy message. In many ways, my experience to listening to Snyder's verbally share his work is reminiscent of listening to classic music on the way  to work with my untrained ear. Both are incredibly comfortable auditory experiences that establish an educated yet grounded mood. On rare occasions some small understanding is revealed to me as the recipient.

Much like a film with many quotable lines, The Practice of the Wild has many phrases and sayings that since its initial publication have become popularized as inspirational quotes, such as “With no surroundings there can be no path, and with no path one cannot become free.” Also like a quality movie with many good lines, the parts are even stronger when taken as part of a whole. The tape (and book) both add depth and meaning to Snyder's personal philosophy of compassion for all sentient beings, a class in which he includes mountains, trees and water. Key to continuing to foster and nurture this relationship with all beings is allowing our language to grow and develop in a manner that suggests the interdependence necessary for survival. "Wild," "nature," and "place" are just three of the words that Synder's clarification of within the context of his environmental politics, serve as common entry points for those unfamiliar with his thinking. As someone who is superficially aware--and deeply appreciative of--Snyder's work, I find myself always in need of a re-engagement with his brand of deep ecology. This rewiring of our linguistic present is just a precursor to what Snyder hopes will blossom into a radical restructuring of modern living in accordance with his ideas.

I seem to recall having seen a more current version of The Practice of the Wild text with the audio book included, but was unable to find it on line. Fortunately, Snyder is such a beloved literary-cultural figure that many of his speaking appearances and interviews have been capture on video and are available for viewing on YouTube. If unable to find the book-on-tape, you could do much worse than spending a few minutes with Gary Snyder at Colorado College in 2015. 

What Did the Cat See?

Blackbeard the cat at his post. (7/26/19)

The majority of photographs of backyard wildlife posted on my blog are taken from the large windows that surround our kitchen counter. They open into our backyard. so when an interesting critter or bird comes into view--SNAP! I'll do this at many different times of the day, as reflected in the way that the different hues our lawn take son during the course of the day: sometimes appearing neon green when bathed in sun or deep, dark green when the shade dominates. This accounts for the occasional out-of-focus imagery and lens flare, but also for my ability to take pics when thy can't see us observing them. Blackbeard the cat is a constant viewing companion, so much so, that when we are outside working in the garden, he will prowl the windows to see what's going on. Most of what we see taking place among the tomato cages and bird feeders are, in truth, what the cat saw...

Catbird and sparrow on tomato cages. (7/29/16)

Common Grackles in the grass. (7/29/16)

Frazzled Grackle. (7/26/19)

American Robin. (7/29/16)

Cottontail rabbit with gang of Common Grackles. (7/29/16)

Grackle and Cottontail lunching together. (7/29/16)

Cottontail in the vegetable garden. (7/29/16) 

Male Northern Cardinal. (7/29/16)

Cautious Cottontail. (7/29/16)

Male Northern Cardinal with Common Grackles. (7/29/16)

Male Northern Cardinal. (7/29/16)

American Robin. (7/29/16)

Yakking American Robins. (7/29/16)

Cottontail rabbit. (7/29/16)

Black-Capped Chickadee on Nyjer feeder. (7/29/16)