Almost a year has gone by and I can't help comparing walks from either side of the solstice. In this case, April had the same light as August and even looked humid and stormy. Yet it was cool, and we were amid the new pale greens of spring. The walk had a good turn-out with many "first-timers" joining us. I am growing more reflective as this project nears completion, yet am happy that it has some afterlife--not just for me, but for those of us whose perceptions have broadened and whose sense of connection has been enhanced.
The following are comments made by this month's participants.
Thanks so much to all of you who came out!
"Such a beautiful idea and experience. We should do more things silently."
"A year has gone by so quickly. I was getting used to walking in the dark and really enjoying the challenge and drama of it! Will miss this wonderful ritual."
"Winter took a toll. I can see more clearly."
Can you see the post?
"As the seasons change, there is always beauty all around on the Silent Walks, an experience everyone should have. " (O.P. age 8 and participant in four walks so far)
" More than the view or the wonderful breeze, the trees and plants stole the show. Like Robert Frost's "nature's first green is gold" the light green leaves and golden glow are so enchanting. I'm so glad to hear that the Silent Walks may continue on past next month. I'll always be looking forward to more."
Here is the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
"I was very aware of the beat of the footsteps."
"It was really good to be able to enjoy the natural beauty and silence of nature with so much company. Thank you."
"Hard to believe it could get any better than this. Plenty of new people, plenty of regulars, gentle breeze in the air and leaves in the trees. The road doesn't seem as loud as it did the first few times. Becoming more and more about the woods and less and less about the group and me."
"Lovely walk. I liked that company was sizable, but we couldn't talk. Instead, we had to listen to our surroundings and each other. Definitely meditative."
"Simply beautiful! Instead of listening to what our neighbors had to say, we were able to listen to how we felt."
periwinkle
"Noticed the little lone violets here and there poking up at the edge of the trail. Memories of another similar mountain. Regrets that this discovery couldn't be shared with a friend who died recently, the wonderful feel of the wind..."
"uphill. breathing heavy.
self aware.
determined not to slow down.
pride.
beautiful vista. large grand universe.
quiet downhill. slower breathing.
return to another world."
"Noticed the wind sounding like waves of noise building and crashing in the tree tops. The pattern it created on the surface of the river was the same as the ruffled silhouette of the leaves in the trees."
All visual documentation of the walk was made by our talented and dedicated photographer, Thom Munterich.
"Such a beautiful idea and experience. We should do more things silently."
"A year has gone by so quickly. I was getting used to walking in the dark and really enjoying the challenge and drama of it! Will miss this wonderful ritual."
"Winter took a toll. I can see more clearly."
Can you see the post?
"As the seasons change, there is always beauty all around on the Silent Walks, an experience everyone should have. " (O.P. age 8 and participant in four walks so far)
" More than the view or the wonderful breeze, the trees and plants stole the show. Like Robert Frost's "nature's first green is gold" the light green leaves and golden glow are so enchanting. I'm so glad to hear that the Silent Walks may continue on past next month. I'll always be looking forward to more."
Here is the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
"I was very aware of the beat of the footsteps."
"It was really good to be able to enjoy the natural beauty and silence of nature with so much company. Thank you."
"Hard to believe it could get any better than this. Plenty of new people, plenty of regulars, gentle breeze in the air and leaves in the trees. The road doesn't seem as loud as it did the first few times. Becoming more and more about the woods and less and less about the group and me."
"Lovely walk. I liked that company was sizable, but we couldn't talk. Instead, we had to listen to our surroundings and each other. Definitely meditative."
"Simply beautiful! Instead of listening to what our neighbors had to say, we were able to listen to how we felt."
periwinkle
"Noticed the little lone violets here and there poking up at the edge of the trail. Memories of another similar mountain. Regrets that this discovery couldn't be shared with a friend who died recently, the wonderful feel of the wind..."
"uphill. breathing heavy.
self aware.
determined not to slow down.
pride.
beautiful vista. large grand universe.
quiet downhill. slower breathing.
return to another world."
"Noticed the wind sounding like waves of noise building and crashing in the tree tops. The pattern it created on the surface of the river was the same as the ruffled silhouette of the leaves in the trees."
All visual documentation of the walk was made by our talented and dedicated photographer, Thom Munterich.
widow maker,
sock-leaf,
deer biscuit
Please join us for the LAST Silent Walk on the Half Moon on May 20th at 6pm.
Anyone who has participated in a Silent Walk over the course of the past year
is invited to the SWHM cook-out on May 22. Details to follow.
How did our entomologist come up with this sweet, humorous poem so quickly? Inspired by Robert Frost no doubt.
"Silent walk, your sound is golden!
How our senses become emboldened.
We have to see, we have to hear,
but louder still we are than deer!
We hear the wind, we hear the trees.
What a lovely idea, this idea of Jackie's."
