Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000

Subject: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 11:59 PM

Few sounds in nature are harsh. Even the rolling thunder that rumbles across the sky has solemn beauty. The wind whistles in the treetops and wild birds warble like rivulets of water that make harps among the shallows. The frenzied crash and blare come from man. The woods comfort with their sounds. A tiny yellow warbler with black wings sits in the redbud tree and makes the sound of an astral flute, a clear call for peace and harmony. If the bird wants a tranquil place -- how much more we need it. A wet-weather spring feeds the ground from beneath, giving ferns moisture and life. In the rainy season the water flows and the delicate fronds mingle with the water creating a swishing sound. Surely we can absord the serenity to heal and soothe our souls.

Joyce Sequichie Hifler:A Cherokee Feast of Days

Once more, my two favourite phrases from the above:

rivulets of water that make harps among the shallows;

a....warbler....makes the sound of an astral flute, a clear call for peace and harmony.

Merry May Eve!

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Frank McGrath
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:20 AM

Beautiful words kat. A great way to start May.

However regarding the opening line, Few sounds in nature are harsh, I have heard some of those few harsh sounds.
e.g. that nasty little sound which indicates that the yellow warbler with black wings has crapped from on high on your new jacket.
...or have you ever heard the morning chorus of bird song while you are suffering from a severe hangover.
...or the sound of your own wails when the delicate fronds of nettles leave your skin looking like a moonscape.
...or the sound of your wife reminding you to cut the grass which has grown so long that our childern have become lost in the lawn.

Oh yes, nature is wonderful - if you want to write poetry or you care to learn about it on TV. But sometimes it's real nasty.

FMcG

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Crowhugger
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 01:20 AM

Thanks, k/k.

Nature impresses with all kinds of strength.

CH.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 01:29 AM

kat, Nature can be terrifying too. Surf or storm waves crashing around you. The howl of a hurricane or tornado is more frightening than thunder when you are in the middle of one.. Aye, but the beauty in your words reminds me that summer is not far away. Now I live in the city, I remember the sounds of the forest and animals. Your words also remind me how much I miss them. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: rangeroger
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 01:37 AM

kat, as I mentioned in the thread about getting away,I am looking forward to being on the festival grounds at Strawberry before anyone gets there,and after they all leave, so I can listen to the sounds of the forest.
While some may have felt the sound to be harsh, I would have loved to have been in Yosemite Valley and heard the sound of 80,000 tons of rock falling 3000 feet from the face of Glacier Point.
rr

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: JenEllen
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 02:56 AM

Surely we can absord the serenity to heal and soothe our souls.
Beautiful and timely, katkensho. Happy day to you love.
~Elle

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 05:35 AM

kat - as always - love it!

Few sounds in nature are harsh.

Go right along with that sentiment

Frank - Hope you don't live in Mobile - Eagles there would outdo any yellow warbler! And furthermore as to "birdsong with a hangover" - mate, you wanna hear a Skilsaw 6" from your head, with some "barsteward" just outside the window saying "Hey, Frank, see if you can hit a nail! There's a whole crowd of pissed bastards in this room" (True). And, furthermore, "cuttin' grass" ain't natural. Either let it grow (loss of kids is good for the population explosion) or smoke it (but watch for the hole in the ozone layer).

Dave, (ol'Matelot)

I've "survived" a few "natural" disasters... like

A "widder-maker" implanted itself 2' into the ground 6" from my head, after a ligthning strike. I was awake - "hua" of a lot of noise around me. A couple of "world-class" earthquakes, A volcano breakin' up my arse. And a couple of "surf-pounding" advenures, one in the sea, one in a rather stirred-up river.

RangeRoger - if you EVER want to hear a sound like THAT - buy the cheapest seat you can find! Tarragghh.. Well out to the side! When an avalanche, a fraction of the size you are talking abou "hits you in the face?"....

Dave/Rog - You guys ever "B'n there Done That?"

Doubt it! When you are right in the guts of a "natural cataclysm" - y'know what you hear? NOT A BLOODY THING! It's the "sounds of silence". Adrenaline blocks sound first.

Sorry kat/weepingfartingcoughingspitting - I got side tracked. Further down the quote is:

The frenzied crash and blare come from man. Hmmm.. I trust you accept the ancient definition of "man" (that includes the "woo", "woe", "whooaa" members of the "saps" of the species Homo (Vis: those of the opposite female sex).

kat/dave/rr - Y'know kiddos, I could expand for hours on the few posts in kat's kurrent thread.....

All I'll say is "Nature never done nuttin' wrong" her sounds ain't "harsh" it's the discordant cries of humanity that grate my nerves. Like.....

Fire/Police sirens... feel I have to go out to work

"Head-Banging" Music?

And, extranious "noise" in the world.

kat/spaw - come help out I'm tired and out of my depth...;)

"Up yours with the rough end of a pine-apple"

LOL - Sam

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Lorraine
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 09:23 AM

Thank you Kat today is my husbands birthday and I sent this to him. yes not all sounds of nature are sweet but early spring is special. -Lorrane

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 10:27 AM

One of the finest things that nature shows us are the extremes. Nothing quite like it. Maybe its because we have a hard time comprehending the "whys" of how things work....or perhaps its just the silence and the fury are so extreme and often so close together.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: Amos
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 10:49 AM

Well, it is a fine quote. But force 12 wind makes some pretty harsh sounds, IMHO. I grant that it is a different kind of harshness, though. There is something different about the roughest of natural sounds.

But to balance this I would point out that the harp and flute to which she elevates the sounds of warbler and rivulet are clearly human-made, so maybe we have some good sounds in us after all. Max, for example.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:41 PM

Good Lord amos....This thread was going along quite nicely til you had to bring up Max's "flute." Completely disgusting....and on a Sunday too!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - April 30, 2000
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 02:12 PM

A crying baby may not be harsh, but it's the most disturbing sound there is. Needs to be, too.