October 15, 2015
Think of a tree.
Did you think of a noun? A trunk with branches and leaves.
If you were a Potawatomi Indian, you would have thought of a verb. To them a tree was alive, so alive it was considered a verb.
‘To be a tree’ was their word for tree.
This new idea prompted a visit to a favorite place of mine– the hammock hooked to the maple near the barn.
Gently swaying,
back and forth. . .
back and forth. . .
I pondered the magnificent noun above me.
Was it a verb?
I forced my mind to expand.
The muscly limbs towered above me stretching higher and higher into the sunshine,
the russet and gold-skirted leaves danced with the wind,
the sugared sap coursed through it’s center like a heart beating sweet,
and the deceptively fragile roots grasped deeper and deeper into dark hushed soil.
Thus, in the verb was. . .
poetry.
What is the percentage of verbs in the English language?
30%.
in the Potawatomi language?
70%.
And we came to teach them.
To be a peacock
in the
to be a zinnias.
Goodnight,
from your
to be a friend.
Peacock Prairie 
This is so beautiful!
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Thanks Olivia.
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Extremely beautiful. You find the beauty! This is rather rare.
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Yes, I would agree. WE are rare.
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A post beautiful in every way
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Thank you kind Derrick.
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I can’t stop smiling .. What magic. We have much to learn . Beautiful photos ..
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I’m discovering most of the nouns in nature feel better as verbs. Give it a try.
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Stunningly beautiful words and imagery.
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That is a great compliment from one with such an eye as you.
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This is wonderful.
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Thanks Pam.
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Such beautiful photographs and reflections, Julie. From my studies in linguistics I became very interested in how the language we use affects the way we view the world. Your post is a very good example of this. How wonderful to think of a tree in that way…living, being…in the active sense. Thank you. 🙂
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Hi Jane, Try it on your next hike– not just with trees but with all nouns that you see. The Indians even considered the rocks to have a spirit. It’s been eye opening for me– a whole new way of thinking.Thanks for the nice comment.
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Another good one
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Thanks. It’s always nice to have a visit from you.
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Beautiful!
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Thanks Becky.
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An interesting concept and who is to say which is the ‘correct’ point of view? Traditional western thought is full of flaws. I’ve long thought that plants and animals have spirits, you can feel it and see it.
Your photos are beautiful, I esp. love the one with the maple behind the barn.
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Thanks Eliza. Spending time under that maple, convinces me of it’s spirit. I agree with you about the animals and plants.
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This was a fabulous post. Loved the images and your thoughts too. That one tree is simply stunning with all those gorgeous colors.
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It also gives the most fabulous hugs. 🙂
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I will look at the trees in my life with even more respect. What a glorious tribute, Julie!!!
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Thank you Anne. Nice to see you here. 🙂
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I love absolutely everything about this.
Gorgeous. 🙂
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Thank you Allison and nice to meet you.
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What a beautiful collection of pictures – so many good ones like the nodding sunflowers and the Fall scenes.
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Thank you. I am always surprised by how much beauty I find when I go out with my camera.
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J’aime beaucoup tes photos…elles sont magnifiques…bon dimanche…
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Merci beaucoup.Il y a quarante ans, j’ai pris le français à l’école. Lire vos mots est un excellent travail pour mon cerveau d’âge moyen. À l’exception de merci beaucoup, j’ai utilisé l’internet pour traduire ces paroles écrites en français– nous espérons ce dit ce que j’ai écrit. Merci de visiter mon blog.
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Julie I just read this and found the use of verb for a noun interesting. You know when Moses asked God for His name, he said,”I am.” ( at the burning bush) Much later Jesus said to Pilate,”I am who I am.” so the use of the verb can be potent.Like the tree, God is a living God.
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