Just yesterday I read a treatise on John Keat’s couplet “Beauty is Truth, Truth is Beauty” about scenes on a Grecian urn. I like your blog about the beauty of your avian visitors on a late winter snow much better, and I adore Keats. Your blog depicts that there is beauty in this world despite much ugliness. Thank you, thank you, thank you. As Tom Ryan who introduced you to me wrote in his book Will’s Red Coat, the Navajo say when someone leaves their presence, “Walk in beauty.” You certainly enable us to walk that way with today’s blog.
This is amazing. I've been in exactly the same place. Without the words you put to it, but there. Just drove almost 6 hours round-trip to Albuquerque & back o drop off my MacBook Pro to get a (free) new screen, and the drive was stunning. I just really appreciated being alive and living in New Mexico. Same thing the other morning when I stepped outside to feed the birds. Would have written something very close in spirit to this but don't have access to my photos, etc. until I get the laptop back. It must be "in the air."
Very much reminds me of this quote from Ursula K. Le Guin I recently read in an interview she gave: "When we hear music or poetry or stories, the world opens up again."
Most of my life has been spent on the west side of Washington with its three seasons: cold wet, lukewarm wet, and summer. The temperate climes created a distrust for snow. However, I appreciate its glory in your writing.
I'm up here not so far in my mind north of the Medicine Line from Montana and surprised that the red-winged blackbirds only go so far as you in the winter.
The earth is beautiful beyond all description, even in its beleaguered state today. Or as Larry McMurtry wrote in Lonesome Dove, "The earth is mostly just a boneyard, but pretty in sunlight." An what ape is more aesthetic than the human one when it lives well, healthily, authentically?
I'd say plenty of us extant now don't deserve this earth. That's okay, those of us that do can stay here. Elon Musk can take the rest of us to Mars (or so he thinks, speaking of leaving.) From what i've seen of that place, it's more suited to modern natures. No plants, no streams, no trees, no atmosphere. Can't go outside. The perfect environment for business!
Lovely, Chris. The thinking of leaving this world makes me think of Dennis Held's "What I'll Miss," and about praise poems, like Mary Oliver's "The World I Live In," particularly: "only if there are angels in your head will you / ever, possibly, see one." Clearly, you have much beauty in your head ... ❤️
Utopia may be great for walking, and walking is great for beauty. I'm struck by a moment of beauty on almost every walk. And when I'm feeling poetic, I tend to think that beauty is love and love is everything.
I once started a poem: "Step outside. Look up." Maybe the rest of the poem was unnecessary.
Thank you, Chris. Snow is on the way, here in coastal Maine. The LBJs gather around the suet in our yard. Beauty: I need it. We all do, in one form or another.
Oh Chris. Somehow this is perfect every week in its own way. That line about utopia being good for walking is just 💗💗💗💯
Just yesterday I read a treatise on John Keat’s couplet “Beauty is Truth, Truth is Beauty” about scenes on a Grecian urn. I like your blog about the beauty of your avian visitors on a late winter snow much better, and I adore Keats. Your blog depicts that there is beauty in this world despite much ugliness. Thank you, thank you, thank you. As Tom Ryan who introduced you to me wrote in his book Will’s Red Coat, the Navajo say when someone leaves their presence, “Walk in beauty.” You certainly enable us to walk that way with today’s blog.
This is amazing. I've been in exactly the same place. Without the words you put to it, but there. Just drove almost 6 hours round-trip to Albuquerque & back o drop off my MacBook Pro to get a (free) new screen, and the drive was stunning. I just really appreciated being alive and living in New Mexico. Same thing the other morning when I stepped outside to feed the birds. Would have written something very close in spirit to this but don't have access to my photos, etc. until I get the laptop back. It must be "in the air."
These are the exact words I needed today. Thank you.
Maybe because I'm a sucker
for its beauties,
but this may be
the most beautiful piece of
yours I've read.
Very much reminds me of this quote from Ursula K. Le Guin I recently read in an interview she gave: "When we hear music or poetry or stories, the world opens up again."
I hope that whoever named Beauty Creek enjoyed a similar frame of mind. I like it better than the usual western memes: Dead Man's Creek, etc.
This matches my mood today perfectly, as your writing tends to do. Thank you for sharing your gift! Cheers, my friend!
Most of my life has been spent on the west side of Washington with its three seasons: cold wet, lukewarm wet, and summer. The temperate climes created a distrust for snow. However, I appreciate its glory in your writing.
I'm up here not so far in my mind north of the Medicine Line from Montana and surprised that the red-winged blackbirds only go so far as you in the winter.
The earth is beautiful beyond all description, even in its beleaguered state today. Or as Larry McMurtry wrote in Lonesome Dove, "The earth is mostly just a boneyard, but pretty in sunlight." An what ape is more aesthetic than the human one when it lives well, healthily, authentically?
I'd say plenty of us extant now don't deserve this earth. That's okay, those of us that do can stay here. Elon Musk can take the rest of us to Mars (or so he thinks, speaking of leaving.) From what i've seen of that place, it's more suited to modern natures. No plants, no streams, no trees, no atmosphere. Can't go outside. The perfect environment for business!
www.roughbeast.blog
Lovely, Chris. The thinking of leaving this world makes me think of Dennis Held's "What I'll Miss," and about praise poems, like Mary Oliver's "The World I Live In," particularly: "only if there are angels in your head will you / ever, possibly, see one." Clearly, you have much beauty in your head ... ❤️
Utopia may be great for walking, and walking is great for beauty. I'm struck by a moment of beauty on almost every walk. And when I'm feeling poetic, I tend to think that beauty is love and love is everything.
I once started a poem: "Step outside. Look up." Maybe the rest of the poem was unnecessary.
I was nodding along when this first posted. I wonder, Chris, if you're feeling the same this morning.
For folks not in our valley, today it's a lot colder, and quite windy, and the forecast is windier and yet colder.
Thank you, Chris. Snow is on the way, here in coastal Maine. The LBJs gather around the suet in our yard. Beauty: I need it. We all do, in one form or another.
Is It about how we open to the sufferable and gratitude? Thank you for reminding me to look up, Chris.
Great pic!