Yesterday, I was woken up before my alarm clock by the echoing call of returning wild geese, flying over my apartment.
I love the sound of the ocean, I love the sound of rain on the roof, I love the sound of wind … yes. But there’s nothing I love more than the sound of wild geese.
It means to me:
A quickening in the blood, the seasons changing … The geese know about it before we do – and they let us know in their call: “We’ve come back … we’ve come back … get ready for the change … it’s coming…”
That’s your Celtic blood stirring. ;-)
I’m completely with you on this one, red.
When I’m out in the country and happen to hear a flock of geese passing overhead, I always have to stand there staring in wonder. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words – a change is coming, but it’s a comforting and expected change, not something unknown.
It makes you feel connected to the land and our ancestors in a way that is all the more profound for its familiarity…
I just remembered something that makes me want to cry.
I was in 8th grade, and our class went on a field trip with our Math teacher. Betsy – help me out – what was her name – she was the one who yelled at Steve W.??
Anyway, she was not very well-liked, she was a short squat person, with a square mannish face, she was rather terrifying.
We were on the bus, a bunch of junior high kids, going on a field trip, and suddenly our teacher screamed out, exhilarated, “LOOK AT THE GEESE!!!” Pointing out the window.
She was so excited to see them.
But because we were all adolescents, and miserable, and we all hated school and kind of disliked her – we didn’t respond at all, and kind of snickered at her enthusiasm behind her back.
It makes me feel like crying to remember that. I suddenly wish I could go back and be excited about the geese with her.
Oh God, I’m too sensitive to live sometimes.
Miss Randall – I believe she lived above Beth and Tom on Main St. —
It was great here today, wasn’t it? I took the deck furniture out of the garage and brought it around back today. Spring has begun.
I thought that was Miss Barber. Am I way off?
Member Miss Barber? The substitute teacher who was … rather disturbed?
oh right – Barber lived up from Beth and Tom and Randall made Steve W. cry (and gave me a D).
Bill –
Hard to believe, isn’t it? This winter has felt like it went on forever. Of course February had one more day in it as well, which just added to the wintry feeling!
Yeah, it got warm here pretty quickly. Though I still have a little snow left on the front lawn. Another couple of weeks, and I’ll be able to have my dinner and a nice, cold beer out on the deck.
“That’s your Celtic blood stirring.”
Is my Slavic blood awaiting the howl of wolves in the forested mountains or something? Because, for some reason, I don’t think Id have quite the same reaction. ;-)
We were able to grill for dinner last night, it was great. Of course, I know better than to think Spring has begun, there’s usually one or two more good winter blasts to piss us off, then it’ll be over.
Dave J-
So what you’re saying is: your Slavic blood associates spring with the feeling of: “RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!”??
Nah, I like spring, especially in the Northeast. Wolves were just the first animal sound that came to mind, but any ancestral memories of mine probably involve massive quantities of vodka, therefore having no particularly seasonal significance. ;-)
hahaha
Vodka made from potatoes?
Well, it’s not like anything ELSE actually grows in Russia… ;-)
do you know the haiku:
“Now wild geese return,
What draws them crying crying
All the long dark night?”
I think howling wolves would be bad harbinger – like the Wild Hunt or something. But then again, I’m not Slavic.;-)
Wild geese flying are a strong symbol, in Irish history as well as poetry, often of exile, and hope returning. Which is what Ms. Red’s post put me in mind of.
I’m plenty familiar with the motif, Dan: being from Boston makes me an honorary Irishman, does it not? I’ve also spent more than my fair share of time in an Irish pub in Brussels called The Wild Geese, frequented by many an underling (fair, foul or often both) of the Evil EU. But that’s another story…
Aunt Reese –
What a lovely haiku. It certainly captures the sound.
Are you the aunt of Shade in my acting class? belive it or not, I know a couple of Shades.