Examine close reading of The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes with textual references and critical perspectives.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s crime novella is a canonical work of speculative fiction and detective literature that explores the hellhound of the Baskerville legends as a diabolical agency, huge creature, luminous, ghastly, spectral devil phosphorus painted baying werewolf spirited beast haunting the legacy of Baskerville estate and suburbians of Dartmoor Grimpen mire. In reality the mystery behind this superstitious supernatural phenomenon is a death entrapment laid down by Rodger Baskerville II in the disguise of Jack Stapleton. However the antithesis of superstitious mythicism is shrewdly contested by the skeptical detective Sherlock Holmes, and thus supernatural gothicism is challenged to the core of realistic cosmos. Selden, the absconded convict, kinsman to the Barrymores, is suspiciously implicated for his fiendish notoriety of Notting Hill case “ferocity of the crime” and “wanton brutality of the assassin”; but lately acquitted from allegation through befallen excruciating death perpetrated by the baying hound. “Barren waste moors, chilling winds and darkling skies” foreshadows saturnine funebrial macabre as envisioning of the literature of gothicism and foretelling chronicles of sublime detective fiction.
The popularity of the impeccable detective hero Sherlock Holmes foregrounds intuitive logic, astute observations, perspicuous inferences to reveal the murder mystery of the heir to the Baskerville fortune in The Hound of the Baskervilles. Diabolical supernatural agency of the hellhound is a core paradox fabricated within the threads of this occultist murder mystery. Sherlock Holmes cast as the voice of reason and rationality to challenge the swashbuckling psychorama. In this detective fiction, archetypal plot twists occur along with the progression of the storyline, in anticipation of a reverse chronology, in which the murder mystery of Charles Baskerville is committed surrounding a close circle of suspects before a gradual reconstruction of the past. Contemporaneous detective novels of Arthur Conan Doyle is diversified canon of hybridized and fluid genres involving stereotyped characters within middle class family settings, duelling and feuding in all likelihood for identity and individuality, vindictive salvation and retributive justice, freedom and equality, importance of knowledge and the discovery of buried family ties. Central characters and formal elements of the Hound of Baskervilles is a conglomeration of thrill, mystery, suspense, horror, terror, spookiness, creepiness, grisliness and wonder. However, unlike Gothic literature, wonder and terror of the supernatural, fantastic and romantic worldview: suspension of disbelief is silhouetted into obscurity; ie, the murder mystery spectacle of Gothic tradition. Afterall, the real monsters weren’t the supernatural beasts of legends but the darkness hiding within human hearts.
Howcatchem and whodunit of the Devonshire is interwoven by scientific empiricism and human psychology, bringing to the fore: epistolary chronicles between duo Holmes and Watson; weathering the taste of time; entrenched within themes, motifs, settings and psyches of Victorian England. Sherlock and Watson formulated after all, Rodger staged as Stapeton in order to get rid of the competitor rivals to the family estate and legacy of Baskerville fortunes. However, the fin-de-siecle of the prophetic rhetoric implied in the diction of Dr. James Mortimer is lucid and succinct, “there is a realm in which the most acute and most experienced of detectives is helpless.” The shoplifting of money in South America by Rodger as the imposter Vandeleur of preparatory educator of East Yorkshire and entomology research fellow of the Museum is the retrospective foreshadowing of the modern detective fiction. Jack Stapleton is the aftermath of his wedding with Beryl Garcia in Costa Rica and simultaneous settlement in England upon the voyage home. Vandeleurs occupied the Fraser’s fortune and eventually sank from disrepute to infamy. Fallaciousness of the specious identity of Vandeleur and/or Jack Stapleton alongwith the baronet’s ‘mastiff hellhound’s flaming jaws and blazing eyes’ limelights fin-de-siecle detective masterpiece.
Further Reading, References, Endnotes and Podcasts
The Hound of the Baskervilles pp. 75
Chapter Title: In the Closet of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The Private Life of Sherlock
Holmes (1970), Book Title: A Foreign Affair, Book Subtitle: Billy Wilder’s American Films, Book Author(s): Gerd Gemünden, Published by: Berghahn Books. (2008)
Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes, Robert Knox, Bluebook, Oxford lectures, (1910)
Introduction: What is Crime Fiction? Charles J. Rzepka
Degeneration, Fin-de-Siecle Gothic, and the Science of Detection: Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles and the Emergence of the Modern Detective Story, Nils Clausson, University of Regina, December 2005, Journal of Narrative Theory 35(1):60-87, Eastern Michigan University, pp. 1-25
Sherlock Holmes Codes the Social Body, Rosemary Jann [George Mason University], ELH, Vol. 57, No. 3, Autumn 1990, Johns Hopkins University Press.
Lonely wings barely held her in the air as she searched
unable to find him on the ground below a gray sky
As a heart so wounded felt destined to give up
it discovers a fragrance in a Spring breeze calling…
She heard the tune of her love as he searched for her
longing for the caress that would comfort his heart
The song found her over the sounds of crashing waves
with words formed like a melody from a hollowed-out flute
His yearning heart found her beyond the clouds above
and sang her name through the tears rolling down his face…
Their embrace told a story no words could ever express.
Written in the Stars
When two beating hearts claim each other
no stranger can penetrate that powerful force
It was written in the stars from the beginning
and a golden ring of love surrounds us through eternity
I will never leave you, nor will I ever break our vows
for my passionate heart would break without you
All I cherish and want is what you have given me already
and through life and through death will our story remain
because some stories, like ours, were never meant to end.
Ours was a rare fairytale, made to be told through the ages…
My One True Love
Every beautiful memory has you in it
You fill my heart like an unforgettable melody
that plays over and over in my head
You are, and will always be my one true love
and in your arms will be where I will remain
In my darkest moments you are the light that saves me
and our life together is effortless and comfortable
I have no other wants in life but you
and my heart will never belong to anyone else
We have shared many dream over the years
and you have shielded me from any harm
I will never ask you for more than your love
You are the most beautiful colors of true love
which I will keep tucked in my heart through eternity.
With love always…
Kristy Ann Raines is an American poet and author born in Oakland California, In the United States of America.
She is an accomplished International Poet and Writer. Kristy has two published books on Amazon titled, “The Passion Within Me”, and also an anthology written with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai titled, “I Cross my Heart from East to West.”
Kristy has also written two fantasy books titled, “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and The Lion”, her biography and a collection of thoughts on her life called, “My Very Anomalous Life”, and a few books of children’s stories waiting to be published.
Kristy has received many literary awards for her unique style of writing and for her work as an activist and humanitarian.
Kristy is married, has two children, three beautiful granddaughters, and is awaiting the birth of a great-grandson due in July!
Using English fluency formula to improve student’s speaking skill
Olimova Shahina Botirjon qizi
Students of Uzbekistan State World Language University
Scientific advisor: Kaljanova Gulmira
Teacher of Uzbekistan State World Language University
Abstract: Speaking is a crucial skill for English learners, especially students who intend to study at international universities. Unfortunately, most students come across challenges with speaking skills. Mainly, the cause of the problem is lack of English practice. In social media, many videos and podcasts try to give secret methods and new ways to learn English, but the principles are quite simple and mostly nothing new. Students get a bit confused about which is the best, but nobody explains to them how to practice. The English fluency formula is one technique that provides a special way to improve speaking skills.
Аннотация: Умение говорить является важнейшим навыком для изучающих английский язык, особенно для студентов, которые собираются учиться в международных университетах. К сожалению, большинство студентов сталкиваются с трудностями в умении говорить. В основном, причиной проблемы является отсутствие практики английского языка. В социальных сетях множество видео и подкастов пытаются дать секретные методы и новые способы изучения английского языка, но принципы довольно просты и в основном не являются чем-то новым. Студенты немного путаются в том, что лучше, но никто не объясняет им, как практиковать. Формула беглости английского языка — это одна из методик, которая обеспечивает особый способ улучшения навыков разговорной речи.
Annotatsiya: Ingliz tilini o’rganuvchilar, ayniqsa xalqaro universitetlarda o’qish niyatida bo’lgan talabalar uchun gapirish juda muhim mahoratdir. Afsuski, ko’pchilik talabalar nutq qobiliyatlari bilan bog’liq qiyinchiliklarga duch kelishadi. Asosan, muammoning sababi ingliz amaliyotining etishmasligi. Ijtimoiy tarmoqlarda ko’plab videolar va podkastlar ingliz tilini o’rganishning yashirin usullari va yangi usullarini berishga harakat qiladi, ammo printsiplar juda oddiy va asosan yangilik emas. Talabalar qaysi biri eng yaxshisi haqida bir oz chalkashib ketishadi, lekin hech kim ularga qanday mashq qilishni tushuntirmaydi. Ingliz tilini ravonlik formulasi nutq ko’nikmalarini yaxshilashning maxsus usulini ta’minlovchi usullardan biridir.
Keywords: English fluency formula, speaking skill, practicing English communicative skills.
Ключевые слова: формула беглости английского языка, навык говорения, отработка навыков общения на английском языке.
Kalit so’zlar: Ingliz tilini ravonlik formulasi, so’zlashuv mahorati, ingliz tilida kommunikativ ko’nikmalarni mashq qilish.
Introduction: English is an international language that is mainly used in social media networks, and most information on websites is given in English. Apart from that, English is the main communicative language across the world that can help students to build strong relationships with international students. Effective speaking skills improve social interactions and help build relationships and built confidence. The English fluency formula could help them not only to improve their speaking skills but also to enhance their language source. This formula consists of 3 parts, including studying, practicing, and time, which result in fluency.
Formula: (S+P) x T=F
S=study
P=practice
T=time
How to study
The study part of the formula has two main secrets. Firstly, students need to try to study in context and avoid word lists. For example, if learners use a grammar book, they need to utilize it as a reference; they should not study the whole book.
Study steps:
1.Know current level.
Students could know their level through online tests or ask teachers to check their knowledge.
2. Choose the text at a suitable level.
It can be an audio text, video, or written text. It has been suggested that the chosen text or video should be above the learner’s level. If it is appropriate for the learner, it will be more engaging for them to learn English. Students could find their own resources, or even better, they can choose a coursebook. The coursebook is a great way to boost speaking skills because it’s all in one place.
3. Read, listen, and watch.
In that place, students need to watch English content for enjoyment instead of analyzing it. They should just read, look, listen to the video or film, and not overcomplicate the process. Because if they watch videos for only academic purposes, they can get bored with studying, and they will not be motivated to carry on.
4.Analyze the text.
In this part, students do a deep analysis of selected text and try to find new vocabularies as well as grammar structures in the text. After that, they search for new knowledge on the internet to know the exact meaning and learn how to use it.
How to practice
The main concern among students is how to practice speaking during the learning process. As technology is developing day by day, students have more options for practicing with other learners. One of the best ways is using ChatGPT. In that program, they can choose one topic to discuss, and they convey ideas, and ChatGPT asks questions to facilitate a discussion. Additionally, students may engage in structured debates on various topics that allow them to articulate their ideas. It not only helps to improve their speaking skills but also broadens their horizons and improves critical thinking.AI programs could help students with pronunciation practice. Students read passages aloud and ask to give feedback on pronunciation and suggestions. Most importantly, after speaking, ChatGPT gives feedback on areas for improvement, such as vocabulary usage, sentence structure, and pronunciation. Through this, students know their mistakes and can correct them with enough practice.
There are two main ways to practice:
1.Alone.
In that case, students can efficiently use YouTube for improving their speaking ability. While watching one video, students can pause and repeat the sentence that they hear. Sometimes they can change words, tense, or even the structure of sentences. It is like a shadowing technique that helps students to boost their speaking skills.
2.Practicing with others.
Students can speak with people who intend to learn English. In this method, they need to choose a person who has the same level as them. They can use Google to find topics, and they should have 20 minutes of talk a day.
For alone practice, there are kind of three good ways:
1.One of the controlled ones, where students should just repeat sentences in the video.
2.Semi-controlled.
In this way, students may change the structure, vocabulary, and words. While they are repeating, they can change a word, or they even can add some new information.
3.Free practice.
This way is wider as compared to others. Students need to find some phrases that they have not seen before. After that they will make a story, trying to use those phrasal verbs. It is always a good idea to record when they are practicing alone. They have a chance to listen back and find mistakes. This method is helpful for lone learners because they can not get feedback from others.
Research and discussion:
The English fluency formula is one of the effective techniques that helps students to develop improved communication skills. The research was conducted in a university class. For observation, first-year students were taken during 2 weeks. Every lesson, teachers tried to teach using the English fluency formula. In the first week, they selected one interesting YouTube website and started to watch one video every lesson. The video was about educational theories; students independently chose it based on their interest. In the second week, they began to analyze the video and found new vocabularies as well as grammatical structures; they wrote all of them down. Additionally, students imitated characters with gestures. Teachers requested to learn deeply what they had written. Finally, when teachers got interviews from students to check their speaking ability, improvements were seen in vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and fluency.
Conclusion:
Speaking is a vital skill in learning English that needs to be mastered by students. Most students have problems with lack of practice with others, which makes students levels low. The English fluency formula aimed to help learners improve their English language skills and enhance fluency. Based on research given above, it is proven that the English fluency formula can help students to improve their fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and overall ability to speak. During research, students were able to learn new knowledge and find more information on topics they were interested in. Lastly, with the imitation technique, students can speak more like a native speaker and learn more phrases that are usually used by natives.
References:
1. 1. Ur, Penny. (2012). A Course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge University Press.
2. Nation, I.S.P., & Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking. Routledge.
3. Lazaraton, Anne. (2001). Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to the Study of Language Learning Strategies. In Language Learning Strategies in Independent Settings (pp. 25-50). University of Michigan Press.
4. Kukulska-Hulme, Agnes. (2009). “Will mobile learning change language learning?” ReCALL, 21(2), 157-165.
Annotatsiya:Tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti fanining asosiy tushunchalari va atamalari tarjima faoliyatini tashkil etuvchi muhim bilimlarni shakllantiradi. Tarjima nazariyasida o‘rganiladigan asosiy tushunchalar orasida “ekvivalentlik”, “yuzaki tarjima”, “qayta tarjima”, “stilistik tarjima” kabi atamalar muhim o‘rin tutadi. Tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti sohasida asosiy e’tibor tarjima jarayonidagi muammolarni hal qilish, madaniy va lingvistik farqlarni hisobga olgan holda to‘g‘ri va aniq tarjimani amalga oshirishga qaratiladi. Tarjima amaliyoti esa ilmiy, ijodiy va professional sohalarda qo‘llanilishi kerak bo‘lgan metodlarni va uslublarni o‘z ichiga oladi.
Kalit so‘zlar:tarjima nazariyasi, ekvivalentlik, yuzaki tarjima, stilistik tarjima, lingvistik farqlar, madaniyatlararo tarjima, tarjima usullari, tarjima jarayoni
Аннотация:Основные понятия и термины теории и практики перевода формируют важные знания, составляющие переводческую деятельность. Среди основных понятий, изучаемых в теории перевода, важное место занимают такие термины, как «эквивалентность», «поверхностный перевод», «повторный перевод», «стилистический перевод». В области теории и практики перевода основной упор делается на решение проблем в переводческом процессе, осуществление правильного и точного перевода с учетом культурных и языковых различий. Переводческая практика, с другой стороны, включает в себя приемы и приемы, которые следует применять в научной, творческой и профессиональной сферах.
Ключевые слова:теория перевода, эквивалентность, поверхностный перевод, стилистический перевод, лингвистические различия, межкультурный перевод, методы перевода, процесс перевода
Annotation:Thebasic concepts and terms of translation theory and practice form the important knowledge that constitutes the activity of translation. Among the basic concepts studied in translation theory, such terms as “equivalence”, “superficial translation”, “retranslation”, “stylistic translation” occupy an important place. In the field of translation theory and practice, the main emphasis is on solving problems in the translation process, implementing correct and accurate translation, taking into account cultural and linguistic differences. Translation practice, on the other hand, includes techniques and techniques that should be applied in the scientific, creative, and professional fields.
Keywords:translation theory, equivalence, superficial translation, stylistic translation, linguistic differences, cross-cultural translation, translation methods, translation process
Bu soha tilshunoslikning boshqa bo‘limlari bilan yaqindan bog‘liq bo‘lib, ularning o‘zaro aloqalari va ta’siri tarjima jarayonida muhim o‘rin tutadi.
Tarjima – madaniyatlar, tillar va xalqlar o‘rtasida ko‘prik vazifasini bajaruvchi murakkab jarayondir. Tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti esa ushbu jarayonni ilmiy asosda o‘rganadi, tarjima faoliyatining qonuniyatlari, usullari va muammolarini tadqiq qiladi. Bugungi global dunyoda tarjima sohasi nafaqat adabiy yoki ilmiy sohalarda, balki siyosat, biznes va texnika sohalarida ham muhim rol o‘ynamoqda. Shu sababli tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyotining asosiy tushuncha va atamalarini mukammal bilish zamon talabi hisoblanadi.
Tarjimanazariyasivaamaliyotifaniningmohiyati:Tarjima nazariyasi tarjima faoliyatining umumiy tamoyillarini, asosiy qonuniyatlarini va uslubiy asoslarini o‘rganadi. Amaliy tarjima esa ushbu nazariy bilimlarni hayotga tatbiq qilish – ya’ni, konkret matnlarni bir tildan ikkinchisiga to‘g‘ri va samarali o‘girish faoliyatini anglatadi.
Tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti bir-biri bilan chambarchas bog‘liq bo‘lib, nazariya amaliyotni yo‘naltiradi, amaliyot esa nazariyani boyitadi va rivojlantiradi.
Asosiy tushunchalar va atamalar
1. Tarjima (Translation).Tarjima — bir tildagi matn (manba til) mazmunini boshqa bir tildagi matnga (nishon til) to‘g‘ri, aniq va iloji boricha tabiiy shaklda yetkazib berish jarayonidir.
2. Manba til va nishon til (Source Language and Target Language).Manba til – tarjima qilinayotgan matn yozilgan asl til. Nishon til – matn tarjima qilinadigan til.
3. Ekvivalentlik (Equivalence).Tarjimada matnning ma’no jihatdan tengligini saqlash zarurati. Ekvivalentlik turli darajalarda (leksik, grammatik, stilistik va pragmatik) namoyon bo‘lishi mumkin.
4. Adekvant tarjima (Adequate Translation).Manba matnning ma’no va shakl xususiyatlarini imkon qadar to‘liq va to‘g‘ri ifoda qiluvchi tarjima.
5. Tarjima transformatsiyalari (Translation Transformations).Til va madaniy tafovutlar sababli tarjima jarayonida amalga oshiriladigan o‘zgarishlar, masalan, omissiya (qoldirib ketish), generalizatsiya (umumlashtirish), konkretizatsiya (aniqlashtirish), almashtirish va hokazolar.
6. Intersemiotik tarjima (Intersemiotic Translation).Til belgilarini boshqa tizim (masalan, rasm, musiqa, kino) orqali ifodalash; Roman Jakobson tomonidan ilgari surilgan kontseptsiya.
7. Tarjima birliklari (Units of Translation).Tarjimada mazmunni saqlab qolishga xizmat qiladigan eng kichik birliklar – so‘z, fraza, gap yoki butun matn bo‘lishi mumkin.
8. Tarjima strategiyalari va usullari (Translation Strategies and Techniques).
Tarjimonning maqsadga erishish uchun tanlagan yondashuvlari. Masalan, so‘zma-so‘z tarjima, erkin tarjima, adaptatsiya, transkripsiya va translyiteratsiya.
Tarjima turlari
Tarjimaning ko‘plab turlari mavjud:Adabiy tarjima (badiiy asarlar tarjimasi),
texnik tarjima (fan va texnika sohasidagi matnlar), ijtimoiy-siyosiy tarjima, audiovizual tarjima (kino va seriallar subtitr va dublyaji), simultane tarjima (bir vaqtning o‘zida og‘zaki tarjima qilish), pismon tarjima (yozma matnlarning tarjimasi).
Tarjima nazariyasi: Bu soha tarjimaning ilmiy asoslari, tamoyillari, usullari va metodlarini o‘rganadi. Tarjima nazariyasining asosiy maqsadi tarjimaning muvaffaqiyatli va aniq bo‘lishini ta’minlash uchun kerakli ilmiy asoslarni ishlab chiqishdir.
2. Tarjima amaliyoti: Tarjima amaliyoti nazariyadan farqli ravishda tarjima jarayonining real sharoitda, ya’ni matnlarni tarjima qilishda qo‘llaniladigan usullarni va metodlarni o‘rganadi. Bu usullar tilning o‘ziga xos xususiyatlari, matnning maqsadi va auditoriyasiga qarab tanlanadi.
3. Lingvistik farqlar: Tarjima jarayonida tillar orasidagi grammatik, leksik va semantik farqlarni hisobga olish juda muhim. Har bir tilning o‘ziga xos struktura va ifoda vositalari mavjud bo‘lib, ularni boshqa tilga to‘g‘ri o‘zgartirish katta e’tibor talab qiladi.
4. Madaniyatlararo tarjima: Madaniy farqlarni hisobga olgan holda tarjima qilish ko‘p hollarda nazariy va amaliyotni o‘zaro bog‘laydi. Tarjimachi nafaqat tilni, balki tarjima qilinayotgan madaniyatni ham chuqur tushunishi kerak.
5. Ekvivalentlik: Tarjimaning eng muhim printsiplaridan biri, bu tarjima tilidagi ifodaning asl matndagi ma’no va tuzilishga to‘liq mos kelishini ta’minlashdir. Ekvivalentlik nafaqat so‘zma-so‘z tarjima qilishni, balki til va madaniyat farqlarini hisobga olishni ham anglatadi.
Xulosa qilib aytganda tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti fani tarjima jarayonining ilmiy va amaliy asoslarini o‘rganadi. Uning asosiy tushunchalari va atamalarini to‘g‘ri tushunish, tarjimonlik mahoratini oshirishda va turli sohalarda muvaffaqiyatli faoliyat yuritishda muhim rol o‘ynaydi. Bugungi globallashuv sharoitida tarjimonlardan nafaqat mukammal til bilimlari, balki nazariy tayyorgarlik va madaniy tafovutlarni hisobga olish qobiliyati ham talab qilinmoqda.
Foydalanilgan adabiyotlar
1. Kuznetsova, I. (2008). Tarjima nazariyasi: nazariy asoslar va amaliyot. Toshkent: O‘qituvchi.
2. Shakirova, T. (2015). Tarjimada ekvivalentlik va adekvatlik: nazariy yondashuvlar. Samarqand: Samarqand Davlat Universiteti nashriyoti.
3. Jakobson, R. (1959). On Linguistic Aspects of Translation. Selected Writings, Volume 2. The Hague: Mouton.
4. Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. London: Prentice Hall.
5. Nida, E., & Taber, C. (2003). The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: Brill.
6. Venuti, L. (2012). The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. London: Routledge.
7. Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. London: Routledge.
8. Qo‘chqarov O. – Tarjima nazariyasi va amaliyoti. Toshkent: Universitet, 2009.
9. Karimov E., Xudoyberganova D. – Tarjima asoslari. Toshkent: Fan, 2005.
10. Xudoyberganova D. – Tarjimashunoslikka kirish. Toshkent: Fan va texnologiya, 2011.
11. Rustamov Sh. – Tarjima nazariyasi va uning asosiy masalalari. Toshkent: O‘qituvchi, 1996.
12. Jo‘raev O. – Adabiy tarjima masalalari. Toshkent: G‘afur G‘ulom nomidagi adabiyot va san’at nashriyoti, 1979.
13. Xaitboeva L. – Tarjima va madaniyatlararo kommunikatsiya. Toshkent: Yangi asr avlodi, 2018.
14. Komissarov V. N. – Tarjimaning nazariy va amaliy asoslari (rus tilidan).
15. Jakobson R. – Til va tarjima nazariyasi (maqolalari).
16. E. Nida – Toward a Science of Translating (Tarjima nazariyasi asoschilari qatoridan).
the wind was something. I could hear it rattling outside and at least little parts of the sky blue showed themselves. I had a problem with the boot laces and changed them, using a lighter lace, a running shoe lace as I forgot to purchase proper laces. but I remembered going to Seneca College summer hockey camp and they showed us a video of Gordie Howe giving a few suggestions on equipment. he tied the lace before you do the loops, not once around, but twice, saying that if you do that it won’t come loose. I picked up on that then and always did that and felt I knew some secret about laces. Think about it and you will probably remember seeing someone in life holding down their laces with a finger or fingers in the middle of tying them. That’s because they can become loose before you are done. better to do Gordie Howe’s trick. I wonder how he learned it or discovered it himself. the old time people and figures sometimes know much.
I ventured out and made my way to some
fields. I saw some leaves on trees and they seemed lonesome and strange, burdened by life. I imagined, a pure shameless projection, that they would rather be in Florida on a beach. I myself would have been. I imagined verdant palm fronds in a warm wind, talking slightly in their own way. How would it be? I would walk down some place and easy landscape and read campy pulp novels for fun, enough big thinking about literature and philosophy, spirituality and ideas. but sometimes I’d read a bit of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn and things to remain soulful and as sharp as possible. I’d head back to a patio and order a turkey club sandwich and a diet soda if I was getting hungry. maybe the next day I’d choose to eat at home and fix a sandwich myself. Outside I might hear the sea, and then take a break from eating that lunch, and go glance at the wondrous and whimsical ocean and coastline.
but I had to concentrate on the present and brought myself out of my daydream about the southern shores. I kept on and went over a small bridge. one could hardly discern this bridge from the ground as the snows that had come over the weeks of the middle winter were that high. but some planks wooden were still there, confident and reliable. I stood there for a bit and the wind got stronger, almost vexatious, and I took a few big gulps of it. I had read that Knut Hamsun had gone on top of a train when he was sick and was gulping all the air and helped cure himself. whatever the case, fresh air couldn’t hurt and could only help. then I composed a more ‘verse’ poem in my head:
those leaves/
crinkled and old, staying/
nobody notices such/ and beyond the
winter wind makes the evergreens move/
the working boots talk their talk I see/
and the white collars too/
a bird appears/ somehow displaced from home/ looking/ not at ease like the birds of the summer poet/ no/ looking for something lost
I didn’t have a title for the words then. but I would end up calling it simply, Leaves
there was a series of hills and I went up and then down them, bumps in an otherwise pretty vast and plain area. there were some spots near the far purlieu where some wild sumac lived, retaining that deep inspiring colour in all months. the snow had stayed on some of it, and the white/red made an interesting picture for its juxtapositions. when I had begun nature walking everything looked the same. as time went along I learned that there were hundreds, probably thousands of pictures and poems and stories to be had from woodlands and fields, even the sky and water. we had become friends, and my friends seemed to teach me through time not only photography and writing, but mysticism and maybe…do you know what is beyond mysticism itself, all forms of mysticism, and is the true and most noble and important goal? it is Enlightenment
, Moksha, Freedom, Awakening. Pick your word. I walked and walked. I had to take my time as the snow was deep. The main paths were too busy though. I’d take the snow. Like in life, the main path is easier but paved with mediocrity and predictability. I would make it my own way, somehow, in the snow, in the arts w/my work, and in spiritually and life itself. but, though on the monomyth journey, and the fool’s journey of the tarot, that entire seeker’s trip, i was also no fool, and so would remember to tie my laces like the great Gordie Howe did.
