This feels like one of my most favorite essays of yours. A wave of gorgeous, telling, revealing language:
"But this is not because there is nothing to see; it is because I am not vet looking in the right way. The eyes have to adjust to findinc that which would not like to be seen, but more importantly, the mind has to adjust to paying the sort of careful and present attention that most things in life do not demand."
"Magpied morsels," a carry them as well (but don't paint quite the picture you do) and those morsels we each bring with us, found on our daily walks are treasures and emotional, if not physical weight, as well as waking to now, and possibilities.
I'm a bit more of a 'raven' than a magpie; I only discriminate against seagulls, though. I love how you saw the tide as people going to work in a city....I feel the tide a bit differently - time bending, emotion and so on, I'm a bit more zoomed out, but your details felt good! Subscribed. :)
From a fellow magpie. Thank you. And from a fellow swimmer who cannot get into the water right now: your description of the ocean carried me along physically. Made my eyes salty with longing.
I'm in awe of your writing, always so immersive, observant, adorned throughout with sentences like sparkling jewels. And I've learned I may be a magpie. Thank you for this lovely piece.
I saw my first magpie when we visited London a couple years ago, though I know they are native to the western US (I am in the eastern part of the country). I was so taken with the beauty of this bird in flight--the flash of white wing, flutter. And now you have given me another beautiful image by which to think of this lovely creature and further identify with it. Thank you.
"This is, I think, both a skill and a burden for the magpies of this world: we do not only collect the beautiful, we collect it all—the gems, the stones, the flesh, the bones, the meat and gristle and gold." This is what I've been trying to articulate for months now, but I could never get the words quite right. Thank you.
I suppose I am a magpie too - when I am out and about, collecting thoughts and impressions on things I see, sometimes things I find beautiful or interesting, or sometimes things which for other reasons have entered or pushed their way into my notice.
Always, I have a notebook with me and sometimes will straightaway write down what I am feeling, or other times will need to wait until I get home to properly empty my thoughts onto the page, and decide then on treasures I would like to keep and on what to do with those things I would rather be rid of.
Interesting what you say about the man on the train. We need to pay attention to our animal senses, don’t we.
Congratulations on your book. I can imagine how wonderful this must feel.
Congratulations Rebecca. Thank you for reading with the calming ocean rush as you invite us onto the train, and into the kelp forest to help us understand what we magpies do need to witness. 🙏🖤
A glimpse of you outside your normal habitat, and lovely images from your usual environment. Trains are a great place for people watching and - yes - some of them are people to avoid...
This was such a wonderful read Rebecca. I like to think myself a magpie and actually can’t back with pockets full after a journey on the underground. You’ve given me a nudge to do something with the trinkets
Another fellow magpie salutes your tribute to the species and the collecting skills, which are sometimes not so nice to keep (hope you have dropped the nasty man morsel somewhere (perhaps at the local tip) and replaced it with those lovely aquatic neighbors of yours.
This feels like one of my most favorite essays of yours. A wave of gorgeous, telling, revealing language:
"But this is not because there is nothing to see; it is because I am not vet looking in the right way. The eyes have to adjust to findinc that which would not like to be seen, but more importantly, the mind has to adjust to paying the sort of careful and present attention that most things in life do not demand."
"Magpied morsels," a carry them as well (but don't paint quite the picture you do) and those morsels we each bring with us, found on our daily walks are treasures and emotional, if not physical weight, as well as waking to now, and possibilities.
Love the braiding of these magpie moments. And the book looks wonderful.
Fellow magpie, occasional cold water snorkeler, and thankfully former commuter here. This was a great read!
I'm a bit more of a 'raven' than a magpie; I only discriminate against seagulls, though. I love how you saw the tide as people going to work in a city....I feel the tide a bit differently - time bending, emotion and so on, I'm a bit more zoomed out, but your details felt good! Subscribed. :)
From a fellow magpie. Thank you. And from a fellow swimmer who cannot get into the water right now: your description of the ocean carried me along physically. Made my eyes salty with longing.
I'm in awe of your writing, always so immersive, observant, adorned throughout with sentences like sparkling jewels. And I've learned I may be a magpie. Thank you for this lovely piece.
Brilliant observations Rebecca, thank you.
This is so lovely. And now I know, I too am a magpie!
aye love / 2 questions :: do you wear a diving mask when swimming between two seas ?? how did the book reception go in london ??
I saw my first magpie when we visited London a couple years ago, though I know they are native to the western US (I am in the eastern part of the country). I was so taken with the beauty of this bird in flight--the flash of white wing, flutter. And now you have given me another beautiful image by which to think of this lovely creature and further identify with it. Thank you.
"This is, I think, both a skill and a burden for the magpies of this world: we do not only collect the beautiful, we collect it all—the gems, the stones, the flesh, the bones, the meat and gristle and gold." This is what I've been trying to articulate for months now, but I could never get the words quite right. Thank you.
I love this post, Rebecca.
I suppose I am a magpie too - when I am out and about, collecting thoughts and impressions on things I see, sometimes things I find beautiful or interesting, or sometimes things which for other reasons have entered or pushed their way into my notice.
Always, I have a notebook with me and sometimes will straightaway write down what I am feeling, or other times will need to wait until I get home to properly empty my thoughts onto the page, and decide then on treasures I would like to keep and on what to do with those things I would rather be rid of.
Interesting what you say about the man on the train. We need to pay attention to our animal senses, don’t we.
Congratulations on your book. I can imagine how wonderful this must feel.
Congratulations Rebecca. Thank you for reading with the calming ocean rush as you invite us onto the train, and into the kelp forest to help us understand what we magpies do need to witness. 🙏🖤
A glimpse of you outside your normal habitat, and lovely images from your usual environment. Trains are a great place for people watching and - yes - some of them are people to avoid...
Congratulations on the book, Rebecca.
Best Wishes - Dave
This was such a wonderful read Rebecca. I like to think myself a magpie and actually can’t back with pockets full after a journey on the underground. You’ve given me a nudge to do something with the trinkets
Another fellow magpie salutes your tribute to the species and the collecting skills, which are sometimes not so nice to keep (hope you have dropped the nasty man morsel somewhere (perhaps at the local tip) and replaced it with those lovely aquatic neighbors of yours.