ALT.SF4M

  Annual repost: Summer Night

   • TimoNoma
     03/06/2004 08:48:21 UTC

     Glory of a Finnish Summer Night

     "Painters have sought to depict all the loveliest effects of light in
     the

     sky. They have portrayed the sun and moon in all their different
     positions

     in the sky but no one has yet succeeded in capturing on canvass the

     miraculous brightness of the northern summer night.

     Light from the sun and the moon spreads from one direction over all the

     objects within its circle of influence, whilst others remain in shadow.
     But

     on a clear summer night in the far north, the whole sky glows and the
     air

     itself seems to shimmer in soft, gentle light. When the northern sky is

     cloudy no shadow can be seen because the light comes from every
     direction

     and seems to radiate from objects themselves? When the sun goes down to

     rest briefly, the whole of nature settles into a strange dreamy mood.
     The

     bringer of the day is gone, birds have fallen silent, people and animals

     seek rest and plants wait for night that does not come. Instead, a dim,

     silvery light spreads over forests, waters and shores. It is not the
     light

     of the sun, the moon or the stars, nor is it dusk. It is the night's own

     radiance, serene yet festive, like eternal joy amid the transience of

     spring.

     I search for something in life that I could compare to this, but I can
     find

     no picture to equal this luminous night except perhaps the glow of
     evening

     reflected in the windows of a deserted house wherein have lived
     cherished

     friends, or the brightness of dear eyes looking at one through the tears
     of

     inexpressible love.

     In such a picture of night there is nothing that would shock. The eyes
     are

     not dazzled, the heart beats calmly; everything appears to be unchanged,

     yet all is different. The whole of nature glows, everything is soft,
     clear,

     contemplative. The grass is like the finest velvet, the leaves
     translucent.

     Commonplace objects: a fence, a barn, a horse in the meadow, look
     strange

     and wondrous. When I walk in the forest the rugged pine trees appear to
     be

     wrapped in cotton wool. When I row on the lake, I feel as if the shore
     has

     never looked so enchanted. All around is silence, interrupted only by
     the

     melodious song of the blackbird, and the loneliness that always
     accompanies

     the night. All of this pours into the soul of the beholder who
     experiences

     the invisible bond that links nature to all living creatures. One feels
     as

     if the glory of the night might enter the beholder's eye.

     The birds know time. They sleep as little as possible. For an hour or
     two

     they keep their heads under their wings then again start to sing.
     Country

     people, too, know time. In winter often sleep ten or twelves hours a
     night,

     but in summer only three or four. Only amongst the gentry are there
     those

     who upturn the order of nature. On long winter nights they may stay
     awake

     with lamp or candle, but on light summer nights they sleep behind closed

     curtains. It is a pity to lose what is most beautiful in nature."

     Extract from "Our Land" by Zachris Topelius (1818-1898)

     T~

     --

     The Music is On His Side

       • Nihasa
         03/06/2004 21:30:27 UTC

         TimoNoma wrote:

         >Glory of a Finnish Summer Night

         Thanks for the repost, T. It was as good the second time around

         as it was the first. :)

         --

         Nihasa

       • Oxana
         04/06/2004 14:13:42 UTC

         TimoNoma wrote:

         >Glory of a Finnish Summer Night

         Hey, I remember this. Great read, again. :)

         --

         Oxana