the breath of nature.

tuesday, january 9th, 2024.

It's nearly time to tuck in for the night. A cozy winter's evening at home. My partner has just baked several loaves of banana bread, and I think I'll read a bit before drifting off to sleep.

Nature, however, is restless tonight. The wind is howling through the trees. It's eerie, and it makes me worry about our roof getting damaged by wind or limb. It reminded me of a Taoist work translated by Thomas Merton:

When great Nature sighs, we hear the winds
Which, noiseless in themselves,
Awaken voices from other beings,
Blowing on them.
From every opening
Loud voices sound. Have you not heard
This rush of tones?

There stands the overhanging wood
On the steep mountain:
Old trees with holes and cracks
Like snouts, maws, and ears,
Like beam-sockets, like goblets,
Grooves in the wood, hollows full of water:
You hear mooing and roaring, whistling,
Shouts of command, grumblings,
Deep drones, sad flutes.
One call awakens another in dialogue.
Gentle winds sing timidly,
Strong ones blast on without restraint.
Then the wind dies down. The openings
Empty out their last sound.
Have you not observed how all then trembles and subsides?

Yu replied: I understand:
The music of earth sings through a thousand holes.
The music of man is made on flutes and instruments.
What makes the music of heaven?

Master Ki said:
Something is blowing on a thousand different holes.
Some power stands behind all this and makes the sounds die down.
What is this power?

—an exerpt from the way of chuang tzu

Until next time, be well. :)