Aesthetic Appetites
"I'll not bother grabbing the camera" I thought as Tsuga the Barricuda tugged at my pantsleg, ready for a romp down the grassy road along the pasture. It was a bit overcast and blustery, after all, and not the best lighting anyway. We would stalk squirrels and pretend-hunt-- maybe scare up that flock of turkeys we flushed yesterday afternoon. I need not be a slave to the camera.
But, as they say__ As Fate Would Have it__ there on the side of the path lay an exquisitely composed image of rain beaded up in perfect crystal symmetry on a fallen Fraser Magnolia leaf. This is one of my favorite leaves of all times under any circumstance or lighting-- its color the richest of deep red-browns, a foot in length with prominent feather-pennate veins off the heavy central petiole. But this one... ah, this one could not have been placed in any better light if it had been brought into a studio. It was the archetype of fall beauty sequined in dewdrops.
The dog noticed my rapt attention to this wonder. He licked off the water and ate the leaf.
Surely there's a life lesson in here somewhere.
Comments
I dunno, Fred, sounds like a homework excuse to me. . .
Posted by: Beth | October 29, 2003 7:10 AM
Tsuga has good taste! LOLLOL
Posted by: Cop Car | October 29, 2003 8:09 AM
The lesson here is this:
The beauty of a moment does not necessarily need to be shared in mass as it occurs. You would never be happy with the image that came out of the camera. As you feasted with your eyes you refilled your ink well to continue on. Tsuga, like any child, experience this moment through his mouth. I am going outside right now to eat a wet leaf in his honor.
Posted by: Seth | October 29, 2003 8:53 AM
Tsuga's greatest senses are smell and taste. He just recognized the same beauty you did, and sampled it in his own way...
Posted by: Greeblie | October 29, 2003 12:31 PM
Dogs and nature. Do they mix? Mine ate a very interesting owl pellet I was starting to examine.....
Posted by: Coup de Vent | October 29, 2003 4:23 PM