Sitting in silence is a huge part of my existence and really the only thing that keeps me from putting a gun barrel in my mouth. Li Po – and I think I shared this in our workshop together – writes:
The birds have vanished into the sky,
and now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains.
I love that simple poem so much. For me, silence is more about me not inflicting my noise upon the world, not the lack of sound. Because when I am inflicting my noise, I am not paying attention, and paying attention is how we connect, how we improve, how we recognize the magnificence of all the relatives with whom we share the world and act on their – our – behalf.
I think you know a lot, Chris. Thanks so much for sharing this poem, which I think you did use in the workshop, but I had already forgotten like a cloud. I love the poem, and I love your interpretation of silence.
Sperm whale oil was used in transmission fluid until the Endangered Species Act stopped the practice. American automakers blamed their crap transmissions on the whaling ban after they had to stop using it.
The horrors we have inflicted on whales are reason enough for us to have earned oblivion. Safina's last two books have sections on killer whales and on sperm whales. And "The Floating Coast" by Bathsheba Demuth is just ... wow.
It's very true. And I know I'm supposed to love all creatures equally but -- whales? Whales are astounding, fascinating, just inherently incredible animals.
Safina mentions that whale fat was once used in margarine, which sounded horrific on all counts, so I looked it up. "'The interesting thing about whale oil as a commodity is that it’s the only known fuel that humanity has weaned itself off of,' says Charlotte Epstein, a political theorist at the University of Sydney, who has written extensively about whaling. 'It’s the only source of industrial energy the human beings have successfully moved away from.'" (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-margarine-made-of)
I just thought that was at least marginally* hopeful, that we've weaned ourselves off one fuel? But less hopeful is that we've only done it once.
*margarinally. Sorry, can't help myself, it's late.
Safina talks about National Geographic sending out those records! “In 1979, National Geographic magazine inserted a disk of humpback whale songs into ten million copies of its flagship magazine, the largest-ever printing of any recording.”
I was thinking about those albums too while reading Hannah's essay. Way back in the seventies before time began, I owned a couple of those albums, they were whale soundings overlaid with some beautiful flute improvisation. Wish I still had them.
Such a beautiful and true statement, Alan. Even though I read about animal perception all the time & write about it occasionally, I also forget to consider how much might be simply beyond my ken.
Thanks so much, Janet. We’re such visual creatures, it’s hard to turn that off -- but easier if you happen to put off your walk until it’s almost dark! 😂😉
I love this.
Sitting in silence is a huge part of my existence and really the only thing that keeps me from putting a gun barrel in my mouth. Li Po – and I think I shared this in our workshop together – writes:
The birds have vanished into the sky,
and now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains.
I love that simple poem so much. For me, silence is more about me not inflicting my noise upon the world, not the lack of sound. Because when I am inflicting my noise, I am not paying attention, and paying attention is how we connect, how we improve, how we recognize the magnificence of all the relatives with whom we share the world and act on their – our – behalf.
Or something. Fuck do I know?
I think you know a lot, Chris. Thanks so much for sharing this poem, which I think you did use in the workshop, but I had already forgotten like a cloud. I love the poem, and I love your interpretation of silence.
Thank you, Hannah. I love that, having shared a workshop, when I read your posts and comments I can actually hear your voice speaking them.
What a lovely read. And listen.
Sperm whale oil was used in transmission fluid until the Endangered Species Act stopped the practice. American automakers blamed their crap transmissions on the whaling ban after they had to stop using it.
Thanks, Thomas. That's such a heartbreaker -- wish I could be shocked at the automakers but ...
Ford still makes crap transmissions.... 😭
The horrors we have inflicted on whales are reason enough for us to have earned oblivion. Safina's last two books have sections on killer whales and on sperm whales. And "The Floating Coast" by Bathsheba Demuth is just ... wow.
It's very true. And I know I'm supposed to love all creatures equally but -- whales? Whales are astounding, fascinating, just inherently incredible animals.
Safina mentions that whale fat was once used in margarine, which sounded horrific on all counts, so I looked it up. "'The interesting thing about whale oil as a commodity is that it’s the only known fuel that humanity has weaned itself off of,' says Charlotte Epstein, a political theorist at the University of Sydney, who has written extensively about whaling. 'It’s the only source of industrial energy the human beings have successfully moved away from.'" (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-margarine-made-of)
I just thought that was at least marginally* hopeful, that we've weaned ourselves off one fuel? But less hopeful is that we've only done it once.
*margarinally. Sorry, can't help myself, it's late.
😆
Just ordered The Floating Coast, thanks for the recommendation.
This was lovely. And I’m pretty sure we had one of those 1970s flimsy vinyl whale records— I think they came in a National Geographic!
Safina talks about National Geographic sending out those records! “In 1979, National Geographic magazine inserted a disk of humpback whale songs into ten million copies of its flagship magazine, the largest-ever printing of any recording.”
Flimsy vinyl whale record owner here!
I was thinking about those albums too while reading Hannah's essay. Way back in the seventies before time began, I owned a couple of those albums, they were whale soundings overlaid with some beautiful flute improvisation. Wish I still had them.
The albums I owned weren't the Nat Geo version. I wish I could recall the artist's name.
Listened to them for hours, so beautiful.
Glad you're enjoying "Becoming Wild", don't stop there, all Safina's books are wonderful.
Hope you get to read the other one of Mr. La Tray's recommendation "Beyond Words" it's a gem too.
Anyone tells you "You're anthropomorphizing" tell them to piss up a rope!
Beautiful work, Hannah, thanks for the read.
Thanks, Patrick, & thanks for the recommendation!
Gorgeous writing, Hannah. And full of truth.
Thank you,
ann
Thanks so much, Ann. It’s always a high compliment coming from you.
all this, only because we have ears.
what might be going on, all around us, that we have no organs for perceiving?
Such a beautiful and true statement, Alan. Even though I read about animal perception all the time & write about it occasionally, I also forget to consider how much might be simply beyond my ken.
Thanks so much, Janet. We’re such visual creatures, it’s hard to turn that off -- but easier if you happen to put off your walk until it’s almost dark! 😂😉