We struck him three times with a paddle.

July 4. 

P. M. — Up Assabet with Brown and Rogers. 

July 4, 2017

Saw many pickerel near the boat. At length, near the upper Assabet bath place, I observed, "Stop! Was that a big pickerel we just passed?" for it was so large I could hardly believe my eyes and thought it must have been a stake. 

We dropped back and found it to be a pickerel, which apparently would weigh four pounds, and it appeared slightly wounded about the head. We struck him three times with a paddle, and once he nearly jumped into the boat, but at last we could not find him. It seemed out of proportion to the small stream. 

We ought to have used a pointed or hooked stick to secure him; might have hooked him under the gills. I have heard of small fishes being caught in a slip-noose of grass. 

Close by I detected in the weeds the back of a large mud turtle exposed and, after ascertaining which end was his tail, — for he lay perfectly still, — I took him into the boat. His back was singularly gibbous or bulged up, he having been evidently wounded once. His approach and aspect drove my companions to the end of the boat. 

To-day is warm again, but for nearly a week many people have sat by a fire.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, July 4, 1857

It seemed out of proportion to the small stream. See July 12, 1854 ("Observe a pickerel in the Assabet, about a foot long, headed up stream, quasi-transparent (such its color), with darker and lighter parts contrasted, very still while I float quite near. . . .”)  See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Pickerel


A large mud turtle. See August 26, 1854 (“I am convinced that there must be an irresistible necessity for mud turtles.”)

For nearly a week many people have sat by a fire. See July 8, 1860  “This morning there is a cold mist. . . The thermometer is at 66°, and some sit by fires.”)

It is a bright sunny day. I notice the  forest is not entirely in shade but is dappled with  sunlight.

Looking up I see most of the leaves in the forest are in sunlight. They are lit up bright green and it is hard to find any leaves at all  in the shade. The leaves in the canopy  are arranged to cover every available drop of  sun light.

Even the understory leaves are in the sunlight, glowing bright green. I notice a maple sapling in the understory  with several branches and an array of leaves all of which are in the sun. It seems to be taking advantage of an opening in the canopy,  perhaps a limb from that oak over there broke off.

But if every leaf has its own place in the sun, this does not explain the dapples on the forest floor. The sunlight dapples the trunks of the trees and the cliffs as well as the forest floor. it is a patchwork of light and shade.

Later returning down the ski trail I notice the shadows in the dappled light spots  are all vibrating and moving. The wind in the trees. Changing perspective   - not seeing the objects but the light itself -- i see the whole forest is alive with moving  light and shade

I video a blue cohosh with the shadows playing over the leaves and its still-green berries. Now bright sunlight on the leaves now bright sun behind. Moving patterns.

Bright green leaves in the sun above -- dappled living shade vibrant below.

Bright green leaves above

dappled living shade below. 

Moving light and shade.

Every leaf of every tree arrayed in the sun 

like a house with every room facing the sea.

From the point of view of the sun everything is sunlit.

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