Reaction to Essays

As I read the essays, there was a distinct sympathy towards trees. All three authors sympathized for the trees and their inability to move. In Muir's view, trees are helpless when encountering threats like a human, but trees without any interference have lived and thrived for so long. As put by Muir "God has cared for these trees", once again proving trees can survive by themselves. Recently tree life has diminished as they are in danger of being cut down and used for space; In Dillard's essay she explains trees are "not our competitors" therefore we should try to destroy them for they are vulnerable and can " never get away" as Robert Frost wrote in his poem. Before the humans, trees lavished the world, living freely "as it grows wiser and older" (Frost). Now after reading these essays I feel a strong respect towards trees and feel they should be allowed to go and be fruitful wherever they are.

Story Responses

The Earth on Turtle’s Back

In this creation story, you can sense a spiritual connection between the Native Americans who told this story and nature as a whole. The Natives believed in more mythical ideas whereas understanding nature in scientific way. These people only told stories of what they knew and there was nothing else to them that could shape the earth and make all the living things in it but by superior beings. These superior begins were the ancient sky chief and his wife who lived in Skyland.  From here the godly lady made earth with the help of animals in which “life on earth had begun”, the natives from my understanding not only worshipped various gods and spirits but also certain animals that they believed were sacred as well. Building tributes such as totem poles to honor animals, or wearing and showing off hides and feathers to show ones status and dominance within a tribe. I feel these type of spiritual ideas and bonding with nature have faded and now are more generalized as a whole perspective, like nature has bond with man whereas before the natives believed we must thank this creature plant or spirit/god for this and that and so on. 201

When grizzlies walked upright

In this tale about bear life before, you can also detect a bond with nature and its living things with a Native American spiritual believer. Although in this tale I feel there is a more moral or lesson type message along with the explanation of why bears cannot walk upright no longer. I feel the style of the story is very kid like, proving the theory that these types of Native American Indian tales were more told and passed down and not written, therefore made simple to be told to young ones. This excerpt of the story, “that’s why the ….” is one example of the simplicity and clarity of things and their creation. All these ideas and explanations of creation are no longer existent because a lot of nature and earth’s structure and making can now be proven through scientifically. As I said before these tales were simple for children and remind me of times now how parents explain things and creation with different tales to avoid an awkward conversation. Such as presents are given to children by “Santa Claus” is what they tell kids but that’s not true and is left open for curiosity and for children to believe it or not. 204

To build a fire

In “to build a fire” the story had a more poetic style, from the repetition of how cold it is and the flow of how the man strived to survive but in the end failed. I also enjoyed the twist at the end seeming to change the focus of the whole story with the dog turning to find more providers.  One also senses a lesson taught by the story of listen to warnings, this simple message was entertained throughout the entire story as the man who travels completes more mistakes. I really enjoyed reading this story because the scenery London portrays in his skilled writing. When he describes “a dim a little-traveled trail led eastward through the fat spruce timberland”, it’s a great visual effect he describes with during the story you can feel the adventure as well. I have read other works of London and noticed a major pattern of extreme detailing and imagery in his writings. Another pattern I have encountered is the setting Jack London writes in, they are usually cold and mysterious and often in the Yukon or cold places like Alaska, during the same time period. The way London shows nature is in its fiercest state and how nature can be beautiful but also deadly and a serious matter if not prepared. 217

Nature

Ralph Waldo Emerson addresses nature as a perfect environment one where there is a “perfect exhilaration” in my view I think there are those who still don’t believe in the beauty of nature and therefore not all agree with Waldo. One thing I do agree with Emerson is that nature can affect ones emotion and shift it at times too. When Emerson says “Nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece,” it means that you could be in any mood when you experience nature for it will fit your mood. One way I like to witness nature or simply the outdoors is when I step out into the porch. I sit relaxed in a chair and just watch people walk by, read a book or even play dominoes with my dad, whatever it is I come outside I like to smell air. It’s my simple way to be with nature and escape from whatever goes on inside the house or anywhere. Emerson also states “yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight does not reside in nature, but in man, or in harmony of both” which goes back to my porch nature witnessing, I, in harmony me and nature sit and relax together each doing our part to keep it quiet and relieve ourselves to a state that is perfect. 230

Thanatopsis

William Cullen Bryant a confusing writer gives his view on death and an overall message that one should not fear death and in the end we all are equal. We all share the same resting place, “yet thine eternal resting place shalt not thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish Couch more magnificent”, with everyone that has ever lived from kings to a slave and criminal, we all share the earth. Bryant also has some ideas like not fearing death because it will come to you no matter what, and in the end we will have a majestic resting bed, for your resting place is the entire earth and nature that decorate and “adorns” you with great scenes and such. ''By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams”, Bryant not only says to not fear of death but face it peacefully as if you are willing to go. Willing to reach you final bed and have the world to yourself. I particularly did not like this poem as it was too confusing for the simple messages it held. 194.

Weather Experience:

Air Moist

I woke up hot,

threw the covers off

on my body

was sweat that

damped the bed

I hate it when

it's humid 

The air is moist

So I went to the shower

sprinkled on cold water...

when outside dressed loose and lightly

walked towards the sands

The air still moist

The perilous rocks and sand scourged the skin
until stepping on some moist rocks
Ran right into the water as
I felt the heat balance with the cool water
A pleasant equilibrium that calmed the body
All was moist

Humid days belong in the water
Moistness be battled with water
The water has a good moistness to it

line count: 22

The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen Is _____:

In my eyes, the greatest sight was the Lion King setting on Pride Rock, although not completely real I imagine that to be the most majestic landscape. In the movie as the lion cub was hoisted into the air, on the tip of a sky-scraping rock, and everything the sun touched seemed to be royal.. This picture reminded me of the simplicity of the sun, the sun enriches everything and the land was almost all a warm colored scheme gaze. The skies were in a mirage of purple, red orange and yellow and as the ceremony for the introductory of the future king was done, all animals of the African land bowed in respect. Piercing the sky's array of dark colors was a beam of light which shined upon the Pride Rock, a stone structure composed of three pieces. Mounted on a big stone base stood one piece which rose up high vertically and another which rose at an angle crossing the other piece horizontally here was the almost flat high up podium. I saw the spectacle within the movie Lion King, although the first time I did not notice the masterpiece of colors and graphics the movie showed. After watching it recently for some countless times I took in the big picture of colors and thought this would be very nice to see. This motion picture inspired me to visit Africa and witness nature, Africa over any other place because it's where human civilization began, and the heart of nature as it possess so many different species of animals and life. I have never been much fascinated by nature and I think Africa is the only land worth seeing as I have learned that there is more in Africa that Lion King does not show.
 Word count : 296 words

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Native American Creation Story:

Why humming birds do not sing

Before hummingbirds used to do more than hum, they were singing-birds that sang. They sang even better than the ancient Sky Spirits. All the other bird that lived in the Sky world were jealous and therefore did not like these birds.

But the singing-birds had a flaw too, they could not fly like the rest of the birds. They sang all day to entertain themselves and get flying off their minds.

As days passed the birds wished to fly too, hearing tales from the other birds and all the land they saw and traveled through.

The singing-birds finally couldn't stand it and decided to pay a visit to the majestic swan spirit. They had to walk us a mountain to reach him. They couldn't fly there like the rest.

Finally at the top the singing-birds found the swan spirit sleeping. They began to sing, in an attempt to wake the spirit up. But the spirit only fell into deeper sleep for the birds voices were to sweet. The Swan Spirit was a perfectly white bright bird with no stains markings

They had a problem here and didn't know how to wake up the swan. They spotted a small rock and decided to wake the spirit up with it. They threw the rock in attempt to wake the swan. The rock flew at a great speed striking the swan’s eye. It began to bleed an ugly black liquid.

The Swan arose in a crying alarm and screamed in pain, the black blood now covered its eye and around. That is why swans have black covered eyes and are not fully white.

The spirit in anger cursed the singing birds down to the human realm. He took away their singing abilities and cast them down.

In the free falling even the birds went down and down for a very long way. In an attempt to lessen the fall the pack of singing birds fluttered their wings to lose speed.

For a long time the birds did this, finally being able to glide and eventually fly, they reached earth later after learning.

The birds in joy began to sing in happiness, but nothing came out, only hymns that were hummed.

They realized what the swan had also done as well and quietly hummed a sad song. This is why hummingbirds hum and not sing.

 words:387

Nature Poem

Orange Block

Endless orange

broken rocks

The Grand Canyon stretches for miles

at the bottom

a skimpy river

but it's the creator

Dark passages

sheathed in shade

but above the rock

you see it all

The canyon is

so old

many lives come here

and stories told

so old

but yet so new

as it changes more than you

What if you saw it

at another angle

from the birds eye view

to the winged animal

it's all theirs

all that's orange

all of it...

This is where it reigns

and will cease

though not orange

it will be orange.

Here in the Grand Canyon

we're all orange

line count: 30 lines