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"Writing in your own voice, and finding others who write (or paint, or photograph, etc.) in their own voice. It feels like freedom."

This describes perfectly how I felt when I first ventured into the world of the old Chinese and Japanese poets (I have The Ink Dark Moon myself). These were people writing about things they saw and experienced in a way that felt very similar to what I was trying to do, and I felt that connection across time and space and language and culture in a way that few things but art can provide. It's magical.

Re: all the cameras. Does that irritate you at all? To me it's come to feel like a taking without a lot of giving back. I see it out at Council Grove, my go-to sauntering place. There is a cavity in a big old ponderosa pine snag where great horned owls nest year after year. Every spring, when the owlets start poking their heads out, people with cameras and enormous lenses start camping out there and it kinda pisses me off. But I'm a cranky bastard.

Finally, I think it's funny that the cry most people associate with bald eagles – because it's the one used for them in movies – is actually that of a red-tail hawk. The real world squeaks and squeals of an actual bald eagle just aren't majestic enough, apparently. 😂

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That’s hilarious about the red tailed hawk calls! I had no idea. Now there’s a poem right there:

Movies dub

the bald eagle cry

with that of the

red tailed hawk

because they think it sounds

more manly.

But eagles,

those black and white

figureheads, screech

and cry needily,

bratily, desiring

all that eagles desire.

Or something.

In an early draft I started with the cameras and my unease about them -- and then I happened to read a little of The Ink Dark Moon Sunday morning and rewrote the beginning and was off and running and the grumpy part didn’t fit as well any more.

I might go back and do another part though with the earlier version because I agree, there is something a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. I feel like it’s a little delicate -- I don’t want to yuck someone’s yum, and of course I’m taking pics too, and getting out in nature is a good thing ... but there is something... acquisitive about this approach. It feels like the kind of thing that, on safari, can lead people to urge their guides to get too close to the animals so they can get a better shot. There are so many horror stories (and videos) about this kind of thing. Now that I’m typing -- yeah, maybe I will go back and write about this. Thanks. Would love to read what you have to say on this too.

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I loved this whole post sooooooo much. And this: “Writing in your own voice, and finding others who write (or paint, or photograph, etc.)...” That time period is FASCINATING- this is the first I’ve heard of it and it makes so much sense. Where emotion and decorum are freed, what can blossoms? Thank you for sharing - and go ‘merican birds and yer soaring freedom ;)

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Thank you so much. ☺️ And I’m totally with you on the time period! Like so many of the cool/interesting things in the world, I feel like a time period in which women were the lead literary geniuses should kinda get talked about in school more? And it totally makes sense to me as well *why* it happened -- that as soon as you have an outlet for self-expression outside of formal business language (from which they were excluded anyway) women become strong writers.

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combination goosebumps and getting teary / lump in my throat reading your comment! because I have a daughter and I'm like, "look, we're not starting from scratch here, and you don't have to win a Nobel Prize in math to be a Strong Woman..." I totally agree these periods should be highlighted in schools . . . I also wonder if it's possible to "see" them without dismantling the whole Men Have Done the Cool Sh*t narratives, but maybe what you're saying is: they've been there waiting to be discussed all along <3 <3

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Yes! They’re out there -- honestly, I wish I knew about more of them. (I’m sure there are more of them.) Let’s keep sharing when we hear about them? Hi to your daughter who no matter what is gonna be amazing as herself. 💗

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Welp you got me with real tears now :) Yes! Let’s keep sharing them. And most of my mothering falls under the advice: “look inside. What’s there? start there, then move out…” 🪴💞

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I had a wonderful time, Hannah. Thank you for introducing me to this spot! And that hole in the wall that served everything smothered in crab dip. Your photographs are fantastic. I'll share my videos and thoughts this week, and link to this lovely post, infused with poetry. I'm reading Jim Harrison and Maggie Smith at the moment.

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Oh thank *you*! It was such a great outing -- bird chatter, our chatter, a walk, some crab dip -- it doesn’t get much better. Can’t wait to read your take & see your videos. I agree with Kara, that combo of poets is potent, I expect you to start glowing or perhaps levitating soon.

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Potent combo! ⚡️👯‍♂️⚡️

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I love the poems and the photos!

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Thanks so much, Rachel. I was blown away by the poems when I started reading them, and of course the eagles speak for themselves (pretty much literally).

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Lol they ARE so schreechy!

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I loved this. I've always indulged in and cherished the freedom in voices - my own and others, as an artist or even just expressive person. For some time this year another brain was swapped out with mine and I saw things differently. The environments i moved in dimmed and became subject to my ego - they were not pleasing to ME. Cue the sad music, the world darkened, color drained and it was hard to cherish voices, esp my own. Cherishing is coming back and I'll take some liberty in thinking of myself as a Japanese woman in the 8th century utilizing a foreign character set to phonetically hear my own voice. Also, can't wait to see you in the desert!

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“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Thanks so much, Johnny. 💗 Looking forward to seeing you in the desert too.

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Good pacing, storytelling; challenging questions.

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Thanks so much. Oh, and I’ll get back to you about your other question.

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A wonderful wander through nature, history, women and photography, even crab fries. Brilliant photos of eagles.

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A wonderful wander through language, history, photography, and nature, even crab fries. Brilliant views of the eagles

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Thanks so much, Mom. 💗💗💗

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I was reading your essay and said to myself: was I near Conawingo dam on Saturday? Yes I was! I joined Rout 1 about a mile east of the dam and saw THREE bald eagles sitting in trees right alongside the highway. It struck me as odd since we weren't near water (we were on our way to Longwood Gardens to see the Christmas display.) Now I've looked at a map and seen how close I was to the dam! Holy smoke your photos are fabulous!!

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Oh if you ever want to meet up there I’d totally be up for it! The bald eagles really are pretty incredible (as you’ve already experienced), to say nothing of the crab fries. Hope you enjoyed the Longwood gardens & I’m sorry I had to miss the poetry reading tonight -- hope to be there December or January. 💗

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Loved the eagle pics!! And I had a crab dip—tator tot dish some years ago with friends in Baltimore & we still talk about it. We all agreed it was amazing but should be eaten only once in a lifetime.

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