Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Something/Someone Old
In college, I used to love the poet James Wright.
Wright was born in Ohio (Martin's Ferry) to a glass factory worker and a laundress. Neither attended school beyond the eighth grade. Wright had a nervous breakdown in high school--and to be noticed as such at that time, it must have been bad. He joined the Army and served in post-war Japan.
I mention his military service because James Wright got his college degree on the G.I. Bill. Without the G.I. Bill, we probably would never have had the privilege of reading his poetry. He graduated cum laude and won a Fullbright Scholarship to Austria. Returning to grad school, he studied with another of my favorite poets, Theodore Roethke.
I love Wright, like Mary Oliver, because of his lyrical and deep connection to the natural world, a sweetness that never descends to sentimentality. Reading his poetry is like noticing a raindrop that has caught the last ray of sunlight after a day filled with rain. You bend closer and find a perfect blade of grass hovering within a glass globe. Wright's poetry is like that.
He eventually won the Pulitzer Prize. He is most famous for changing the entire style of his poetry in mid-career, in his 1963 book The Branch Will Not Break.
My Something Old today is his poem "Trying to Pray," from The Branch Will Not Break.
TRYING TO PRAY
This time, I have left my body behind me, crying
In its dark thorns.
Still,
There are good things in this world.
It is dusk.
It is the good darkness
Of women's hands that touch loaves.
The spirit of a tree begins to move.
I touch leaves.
I close my eyes, and think of water.
Something New
My Something New is the 2018 novel Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. The book became a bestseller at least in part because it was a pick of Reese Witherspoon's book club. It's unusual nowadays for me to like something that is so widely recognized and popular, not because I don't like popular art or literature or music (one of my favorite artists is Maxfield Parish) but because I keep our current era at arm's length as much as possible. Netflix is one of the few places where I take its arm and walk along with it, mostly companionable. And even so, most of what I watch on Netflix is Korean or Turkish or Japanese or Brazilian or Lebanese. It's fairly rare for me to watch or read anything new in English these days.
Not this time. I am enchanted with this book. Perhaps I like it so well because I love salt marshes. To say the novel is set in the North Carolina salt marsh is insufficient; the marsh is practically a character in the story, in a way similar to, though not as disturbing as, the 2012 movie The Beasts of the Southern Wild. When reading and watching these stories, I feel a pulse of sympathy within me, perhaps because I've lived around and near such ecosystems all my life.
Delia Owens knows her subject intimately. I didn't need to look her up to know that she must have lived in, or near, the landscape she portrays. It's not surprising that she's from Georgia, and, though I didn't expect it, I'm also not surprised that she is a zoologist. The novel is written with a naturalist's eye.
I WAS surprised that this is her debut novel, and that she is seventy. It makes me feel like I am pretty lame to consider that the time for doing new things or achieving anything is done--at the ripe old age of 51.
I have not yet finished the book, and I already feel confident about recommending it highly.
Something Borrowed
These English children took "The Snow Goose" by Paul Gallico, a 1940 novella about Dunkirk and its impact on two lonely marsh dwellers, and turned it into a song cycle called "Songs of the Marsh."
Taking 'The Snow Goose' by Paul Gallico as a point of inspiration, four Southend primary schools working with artists from the Royal Opera House in Thurrock, created their own song-cycle entitled 'Songs of the Marsh'. The piece was created through developing song-writing skills with the teachers involved, who in turn helped their pupils become inspired by the story and then write their own songs based on themes that emerged from the book, for example love, war, friendship and loneliness. The outcome of the project was performed on Two-Tree Island at Leigh-on-Sea in the Thames Estuary on the 20th July 2011 to parents, friends and passers-by.
Here is an excerpt from a documentary about the project:
It always blows my mind that there are still places where children are actually taught and encouraged to grow creatively.
Something Blue
This is the kind of landscape I associate with home. I'm not a swamp gal myself, in the sense of being one of the folks who live within the swamp. I'm a townie. But cypress swamps have been within spitting distance of most of my homes. Even Philadelphia and D.C. had their own versions of swamps and marshes nearby, though not the cypress ones of my childhood.
This one is from Mississippi, in the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. It's closer to Tennessee than the Gulf, so, obviously, it is a freshwater swamp. Isn't it beautiful?
How are you all today?
Comments
Agree, the marsh is a character in the book
I was intrigued by a review of the book in which a description of the marsh was featured. Not only the marsh but the lives of the birds is so wonderful. Having spent time along the Texas coast this was a wonderful book
Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.
This ain't no dress rehearsal!
I love marshes generally, and even swamps,
(the book goes into the difference between marshes and swamps in an interesting passage) but my favorites are salt marshes. There's something about the area between sea and land, freshwater and salt, that is intensely creative and intriguing. Nature really goes to work overtime in those places. Those of us who have spent time along the Gulf coast are blessed.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning
Lovely thoughts today, CStMS.
Poetry, stories, and nature are things which are gifts. Sometimes in the busy world we lose our hold on the things that are important.
Hope you and your family and friends are all well, and the holiday season has been renewing and fulfilling for you all!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning, Lookout!
Thanks for the kind words. We actually had a good holiday. I hope you all did as well.
It occurs to me that you, in particular, might like this book. It's the naturalist's way of looking at the swamp that I think would suit you.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
yes, I loved the book
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning CSTMS. Ya got me out poking into memories
and resources already. I've seen but probably not intensively experienced swamps in the South-East, and maybe Central and South America, but not really here in Cali or on the weesst coast at all, or have I? I've spent a ton of time in salt marshes, but what are they, so, as a public service:
Differences between marshes and swamps
(wikipedia)
As I thought, swamps out here are rare and generally temporary; we don't have many wet footed tree species, though a few shrubs might qualify. That led me to mangroves, definitely woody vegetation, but having their own domain:
(also wiki) That crosses Central and South American experiences off of the list of potential sites, since all I recall ever visiting and roaming about in were definitely mangrove swamps with the exception of one riparian area in Belize that was definitely a marsh in my opinion. However, the website describes it (Crooked Tree) mostly as a "wetland" and then as follows:
which reminds me that Cali has a lot of lagoons and many of the marsh - swamp questions in my feeble mind are with respect to the shores and verges of same.
Lastly, what we mostly have is the salt marsh, some even moderately famous and ecologically important such as the Hayward Salt Marsh. They too are a distinct species of thing -
That's way too much of that this early.
Have a great one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
No, it's just enough.
Thank you for sharing the info. The fact that the difference between a marsh and a swamp is whether or not the water is moving or stagnant (even slowly moving, like in the Sea of Grass or our local Paynes Prairie) is fascinating. Despite the poetic description of the difference between the two in the novel, I had only the haziest idea of what the actual scientific difference was. I believe I was thinking in terms of darkness and light. Marshes seem to run much more sunlit than swamps.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I suspect that marshes are definitely more lighted
than swamps because the latter have trees, ergo at least a partial canopy.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Good morning,all!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Speaking of which, I always thought
"drain the swamp" was an unfortunate turn of phrase. A poor metaphor.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Swampish
Heyo --
Your photo reminds me of wandering about in the Atchafalaya Basin...
https://www.louisiana-destinations.com/atchafalaya-basin-swamp.htm
Unfortunately, so much destruction has been caused by the Army Corps of Engineers redirecting the flow of the Mississippi River thru New Orleans, that saltwater intrusion is changing the salinity levels in the lower basin.
https://earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/sensing-our-planet/a-tale-of-two-rivers
Wonderful...except for the interference, of course.
I like marshes better, but I love me some cypress swamps.
What we've done with/to the Mississippi is pretty fucking awful.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
On the other hand...
I know too much about swamps and wetlands generally to go on one of those swamp tours without being wrapped in mosquito netting!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
On the other hand...
I know too much about swamps and wetlands generally to go on one of those swamp tours without being wrapped in mosquito netting!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
swamp and marsh guy - present
Thanks for bringing them up CTMS. Some of my favorite places and subjects...
Marshes and swamps are hard to beat for beauty and species diversity. Great job on the differences EL! Swamps have trees. Marshes are shorter soft vegetation. I have been to the swamp, quite a few of them actually, and studied marsh wetlands in particular as well.
Often along coasts, marshes are between the swamp and the shore. Swamp being inland where some ground, with trees and canopy, above high saltwater intrusion line.
I generally don't admit this, not that I have spent a lot of time rear-deep in the swamp, but I do have a full body mosquito suit, and have used it (Everglades in July). Gloves, hat, everything. I dare any of you to make it down Snake Bight Trail walking slowly. Birders call it mosquito bite trail, often using bicycles in a futile attempt to stay ahead of them. Prepare to lose a pint. But you might see a 'countable' wild legit vagrant (from the Caribbean) U.S. Flamingo.
There is something about the fresh and saltwater habitats mixing in particular, such as at most bays, that creates a synergy of ecosystems far exceeding output of either on its own. These are particularly robust marsh ecosystems. Bays and lagoons are the oceans' nurserys for many species, from birds to fish. The attendant freshwater to brackish to saltwater marshes are a big part of it.
Modern capitalist man has mostly drained them, the marshes and the swamps, filled them with dirt, and called them improved. Or developed. Well, actually it was a million years developed and now it is F'd.
In the U.S. the Okeefenokee Swamp mostly in GA, on the FL line is spectacular. Stephen C. Foster St. Pk. in the center has cabins, canoe rentals and trails, in the middle of a world class primeval swamp. Corkscrew N.W.R. in FL is another world class swamp worth seeing, great boardwalks through it. Lots of these sorts of things in the southeast U.S., especially FL. Pokemoke and Dismal Swamps up in mid-Atlantic are very nice swamp examples. Great Swamp in Jersey is a good too. They are all different and unique, they really change character as you move north out of cypresses. I have seen many of Alligator Eds relatives in these places.
In the west it is more marshes. In particular the bay/lagoon type. But also around lakes and ponds inland. Growing up in socal as I kid I was involved in the battles to save Upper Newport Bay and Bolsa Chica from developers. Today they remain two of the biggest tidal estuaries left in socal. Spectacular places to visit if in socal. The bay area in norcal has lots of great salt marshes, then Elkhorn Slough at Monterey is great, as is Humboldt Lagoon up at Eureka... Lots of the Gulf Coast, especially Texas is all spectacular bays and lagoons with marshes. These are where all the baby fish, and a ton of other stuff grows up.
And we drain and fill fast as we can... just changed some rules to eliminate temporary wetlands designation, so they too can be filled and built on. Call it new and improved. Most of what is left of swamps and marshes with ecosystems reasonably intact, are protected in one way or another. Probably been battles over every one of them already ...
Save the swamps! and the marshes! Visit one, you'll love how you feel, I guarantee it.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
@dystopian
Birders call it mosquito bite trail, often using bicycles in a futile attempt to stay ahead of them.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
This just means you are a smart, smart fella
I generally don't admit this, not that I have spent a lot of time rear-deep in the swamp, but I do have a full body mosquito suit, and have used it
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
An even nicer level of specificity
Often along coasts, marshes are between the swamp and the shore. Swamp being inland where some ground, with trees and canopy, above high saltwater intrusion line.
Put like this, you can see that it's a series of relationships.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Wow. You succeeded.
Growing up in socal as I kid I was involved in the battles to save Upper Newport Bay and Bolsa Chica from developers. Today they remain two of the biggest tidal estuaries left in socal.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I feel great just driving through southern GA on I-95.
You can feel the salt marshes breathing. They are like great huge lungs constantly taking in and filtering water.
That's their ordinary workaday job. They work OT during storms.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Young people going globally for — junk food?
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/26/coke-crisps-c...
Something borrowed — along with the rest of American pop culture.