Dear Friends— As I write, sandhill cranes are making their arrival known, their rattle-cool calls sounding with the newly arrived geese. Despite the lack of color here, the sounds are a feast that only comes with arrival and departure, spring and fall.
Here is a song for your returning crane friends, it is based on Tsuru no Ongaeshi (Crane's Return of a Favor), a story from Japanese folklore about a crane who returns a favor to a man:
I was thinking of writing a post named: ‘On the wings of southern winds’, related to the onset of sweltering summer here. And there you are talking about Northern winds and swans again and my heart yearns for the cold weather. You really are my spirit sister Freya, flip sides of the same coin.
I am yet to sit down with this delightful piece and the one you posted before this. Looking for some peace and normalcy to sit back and dip in your words. Oh and I am so happy to learn that you are putting more effort to pitch your work. You deserve the world 💜
I always wondered how you could put so much time and research into your Substacks whilst doing all the other things one has to do in life - like earn money and keep a household going.
All the best with your ventures and I look forward to whenever you can next post. There are always so many gems and treasures which you uncover for us. Thank you. 🙏
Thank you for this wonderful essay, Freya. I loved the way you went from the returning swans to Sidney and back. I knew of Mary Sidney as the Countess of Pembroke but not her work. I've long been a fan of her brother's poetry (he was, for me, a better sonneteer than Shakespeare). But, predictably, I didn't know his sister's poetry. I've just read The Doleful Lay of Clorinda, and it's lovely. Thank you for introducing me to her work!
The Skagit Valley snow geese are getting ready to leave. They'll be flying over you to their breeding grounds At the Back of the North Wind, just as the white pelicans we saw in the Salton Sea in December arrive here in Useless Bay and Deer Lagoon.
Another fascinating post! It’s always such a joy to see the connections you make. And I loved learning about Mary Sidney. So interesting! Thank you!
Here is a song for your returning crane friends, it is based on Tsuru no Ongaeshi (Crane's Return of a Favor), a story from Japanese folklore about a crane who returns a favor to a man:
Colin Meloy - Crane Wife Parts 1, 2 and 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOMHM6waxk
I was thinking of writing a post named: ‘On the wings of southern winds’, related to the onset of sweltering summer here. And there you are talking about Northern winds and swans again and my heart yearns for the cold weather. You really are my spirit sister Freya, flip sides of the same coin.
I am yet to sit down with this delightful piece and the one you posted before this. Looking for some peace and normalcy to sit back and dip in your words. Oh and I am so happy to learn that you are putting more effort to pitch your work. You deserve the world 💜
Hopefully this was not your swan song Freya.
I always wondered how you could put so much time and research into your Substacks whilst doing all the other things one has to do in life - like earn money and keep a household going.
All the best with your ventures and I look forward to whenever you can next post. There are always so many gems and treasures which you uncover for us. Thank you. 🙏
Thank you for this wonderful essay, Freya. I loved the way you went from the returning swans to Sidney and back. I knew of Mary Sidney as the Countess of Pembroke but not her work. I've long been a fan of her brother's poetry (he was, for me, a better sonneteer than Shakespeare). But, predictably, I didn't know his sister's poetry. I've just read The Doleful Lay of Clorinda, and it's lovely. Thank you for introducing me to her work!
thank you , I have as a result tracked down The Sydney Salter !
White birds.
The Skagit Valley snow geese are getting ready to leave. They'll be flying over you to their breeding grounds At the Back of the North Wind, just as the white pelicans we saw in the Salton Sea in December arrive here in Useless Bay and Deer Lagoon.
I love sharing seasons with you.
Love this piece. And that Mary Sidney created all these words! Embowel! Feathery! Wondered! Thanks for re-sharing this.