Saxifrage
(avesong)
April 28, 2012
Standing by willows in bloom resounding with the hum of bees in a warm afternoon like this, I seem nearer to summer than elsewhere. The air is not only warmer and stiller, but has a voice and meaning. The hum of insects is heard, as if it were the noise of one’s own thinking.
It is a voiceful and significant stillness, such as precedes a thunder-storm or a hurricane. The boisterous spring winds cease to blow, the waves to dash, the migrating ducks to vex the air so much. I sense a certain repose in nature.
Sitting on Mt. Misery, I see a very large bird of the hawk family, blackish with a partly white head but no white tail, - probably a fish hawk; sail quite near, looking very large.
H. D Thoreau, Journal, April 28, 1860
April 28.
P. M. – To Ed. Hoar's, Lincoln. Warm. 65°.
The common Salix
rostrata on east side railroad, yesterday at least. S.
Torreyana a day or two longer. These willows are full of bees and
resound with their hum.
I see honey - bees laden with large pellets of the peculiar yellow
pollen of the S. rostrata. Methinks I could tell when that was in
bloom by catching the bees on their return to the hive. Here are also much
smaller bees and flies, etc., etc., all attracted by these flowers.
As you stand by such a willow in bloom and resounding with the hum
of bees in a warm afternoon like this, you seem nearer to summer than elsewhere.
Again I am advertised of the approach of a new season, as
yesterday. The air is not only warmer and stiller, but has more of meaning or
smothered voice to it, now that the hum of insects begins to be heard. You seem
to have a great companion with you, are reassured by the scarcely audible hum,
as if it were the noise of your own thinking. It is a voiceful and significant
stillness, such as precedes a thunder-storm or a hurricane.
The boisterous spring winds cease to blow, the waves to dash, the
migrating ducks to vex the air so much. You are sensible of a certain repose in
nature.
Sitting on Mt. Misery, I see a very large bird of the hawk family,
blackish with a partly white head but no white tail, — probably a fish hawk;
sailed quite near, looking very large.
Large ants at work; how
long ?
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, April 28, 1860
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