15 December 2009, 21:13
CoyoteKiller82Thanks JB, I just ordered it as well as the following:
More readings from One Man's Wilderness: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke (I've read this online 3 times now, and simply had to have the book for my tiny, but growing collection)
Shadow on the Koyukuk: An Alaskan Native's Life (Sidny Huntington, the brother of James Huntington)
Two in the Far North by Margaret E. Murie (a novel that Richard Proenneke read often and enjoyed, figured I'd give it a try)
Alaska's Wolf Man: The 1915-55 Wilderness Adventures of Frank Glaser by Jim Rearden
These should keep me busy over the winter when I'm not out blasting coyotes!
20 December 2009, 10:40
shakariYup, as you say, Service ranks right up there with Kipling and if you like Service and Kipling, you'll also enjoy Brian Brooke who died in WWI. Brooke's work is extremely hard to buy and having just done a search, there isn't a single copy currently listed I'm afraid....... but in compensation, here's one of his poems:
The New Year
By Brian Brooke
The sun is sinking in the west, like one great brazen orb of light,
Till poised upon the mountain crest, it seems to halt before its flight;
Of all God’s gifts, by far the best, of all his blessings, far most blest,
Then swiftly sinks before our sight; the day is dead, God bless the night!
So dies the year, and who would hold it back if even power he had?
The New Year comes, farewell the old! Why stand and mourn in accents sad?
Some plunge ahead with spirits bold, and some may stand with conscience cold;
But each and all his share may add, there’s none too good and none too bad.
Some sit alone this New Year’s eve, and some within a crowded place;
To some the old year seems to leave of joy and gladness not a trace.
But joy and sadness interweave, and if you laugh, you fain must grieve;
Death is a thing we all must face, and time is of unaltered pace.
The old man feels the time go fast, he knows his years are growing few;
The cloak of youth from him is cast – ah, if the young man only knew!
But do not think your time is past; your heart is young until the last;
Where’er there’s youth there’s work for you; let each year start your youth anew.
For you, East Africa, I trust this coming year with joys may fill;
May this year ever further thrust you up the steep and stony hill.
Then, to your sons, it is but just success should come; for come it must!
And to officials all goodwill; may improve a little still!
We all have friends in other lands, friends whom we love to call our own;
We may not grasp them by the hands, - but are our wishes thither blown?
The lonely settler silent stands, the night breeze fans the firebrands;
There’s much on earth which is unknown; I fancy he is not alone!
The sun is rising in the East, the morning light is cold and clear;
The lion leaves his midnight feast, the jackal slinks away in fear;
The sky with golden lines is creased; good luck to all, both man and beast;
To all our friends, both far and near, a prosp’rous, happy, bright New Year!
I use that last verse in the Christmas card we send out every year and hope you enjoy that one as much as I do.
Another of my favourites is C Emily Dibb and you can find her work here:
http://www.abebooks.com/servle...y+dibb&sts=t&x=0&y=0Here's one of her poems:
The Exile
By C. Emily Dibb
I miss the earth of Africa,
The hot dry stones, the sand,
The friendly feel of sun warmed rock,
Beneath my outspread hand.
I miss the smell of Africa,
The fragrance of the grass,
At dewfall in the evening.
In the glades where leopards pass.
I miss the light of Africa,
The glare that hurts the eyes,
The shock of blinding brilliance,
In noonday’s cloud-massed skies.
I miss the sounds of Africa,
The barking of baboon,
And the thunder of the lion’s roar,
That greets the rising moon.
I miss the wind of Africa,
That blows before the rain,
The warm, wet wind of heaven,
I must breathe it once again.
Oh I long to sleep in Africa,
Through a velvet summer night,
And there to dream of days gone by,
Until my soul takes flight.
Then should I wake in Africa,
I’ll hear the bulbul’s song,
And know that I am home at last,
Back home where I belong.
I don't know The Journals of Lewis & Clark or Kit Carson's Autobiography but will do some poking around.... thanks for the tip!
20 December 2009, 22:11
fla3006Nothing what-so-ever to do with mountain men but an oft-quoted poem that never fails to stir my emotions:
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGj6deaINxM
