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‘Grass Is the Forgiveness of Nature—Her Constant Benediction’

In 1872 Kansas Sen. JOHN JAMES INGALLS, one of the U.S. Senate's most eloquent voices, praised the vitality of the tallgrass prairie in IN PRAISE OF BLUEGRASS--and he wasn't talking music.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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‘We’ll Promise Not To Hurt Her Anymore’

Staring 2015 on a topical note, North Carolina singer-songwriter LAURELYN DOSSETT has posted a video of her new song, 'THE RIVER'S LAMENT,' inspired by the Dan River Coal Ash Spill of Feb. 2014
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Communicating With, and In, Nature

Through nature my mother found the strength to express herself, and the lei, this “art of communication,” gave her peace.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Walking, Fully Walking, in Life

I not only saw, heard and touched “nature,” I even tasted it. It “tastes” beautiful. And I feel “rich.”
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Surf in Verse — June 2014

Riding the waves has inspired some surfers to break out in verse to explain their connection to the waves and Mother Earth. Dick Dale and the Del-Tones provide the soundtrack.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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The Music of Nature

From his outstanding 1878 book MUSIC AND SOME HIGHLY MUSICAL PEOPLE, the distinguished African-American author JAMES M. TROTTER exults in 'the music of Nature'
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Here Comes the Sun-lit Bouquet

In HERE COMES THE SUN-LIT BOUQUET, TOUKTA WONGSE-ONT gains inspiration from fresh flowers, author SARAH ORNE JEWETT, poet ROBERT FROST and a BEATLES song in arriving at a new perspective on her father's passing.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Spring in Verse

Spring cannot arrive too soon, and we anticipate its arrival in verse from SHAKESPEARE, EMILY DICKINSON, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH and other, and in song from MARK O'CONNOR, VIVALDI et al.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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The Floating World

Can the Japanese today really look to Mother Nature to find out who they are? A visit to Hawaii spurs writer TOKUTA WONGSE-ONT to reflect on the lost 'floating world' that once was the Land of the Rising Sun.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Galen Clark

The Yosemite Valley's first Guardian, GALEN CLARK taught others about the mysteries of the giant sequoias and worked tirelessly to protect Yosemite. In his book THE YOSEMITE, JOHN MUIR told Clark's story.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Natural Comfort

When she got lost in ALLEGANY STATE PARK as a child, KIMBERLY DANIELS found unexpected comfort in the natural world.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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A Walk Along Iceland’s Volcanic Rift

WALKING THE VOLCANIC RIFT: Iceland is literally tearing apart at a rate of one inch per year, separating the North American tectonic plate from the European plate and creating unparalleled landscapes.
by David McGee