Whispering Woods

Speaking Tree
Times of India
April 16, 2013

http://www.speakingtree.in/article/whispering-woods

White embraces in it all the radiant rainbow colors, so does silence. Miles and miles of silence in the majestic wilderness of the upper peninsula of “Pure Michigan” as it is known– smilingly, bewitchingly, allures anybody in its snares. Once in its grip you are happy to lose grip of yourself .Very willingly you disappear in the fragrant alleys of these thick forests. Gradually it dawns upon you that these are not silent. You are startled to hear their whispers. The silence starts talking in not one but in hundreds and thousands of ways. Once you are attuned to this intriguing silence you realize that you are in a noisy jocund company.

Have you ever stood in the mid of a deep forest beneath a green, shimmering canopy of tall tress? Catching the golden light the leaves play a checkered game of light and shadow with the gentle breeze. Like a playful child the breeze runs softly winding around the thick stems of trees and the leaves giggle making a happy gurgling sound .The forest has offered you a warm and hearty welcome .The misty, slightly wet, and immensely sweet breath kisses you all over. The caressing throws you in ecstasy for a while. The wind too picks up the infection. The rallentandos slightly turn into accelerando and the forest begins blowing a shrieking whistle. No one is scared. Only the play of wind in the forest has become more thrilling and the trees are excited clapping with their leaves in all directions. Enjoy the forest in a jubilant mood. The wind keeps its moods of playfulness making the forest a serene spot of green on the planet. Its agitato tempi is frightening though and therefore few and far between. Hurricanes, tornadoes that play havoc on bare land uprooting the solitary trees just pass through the green alleys understandingly, relaxing their tired limbs. Feel and hear the great drama the wind plays on the stage of thick forests. And you complained about the silence in the wilderness?

Other characters take entry on the green stage. The birds become a part of the game and the forest reverberates with different types of cheering sounds. The big and small birds in varied colours join the orchestra. The gurgling sound of a thin stream flowing gently nearby cannot resist the temptation of joining the festivity. From the distance a waterfall registers its presence and on the wings of sailing winds transports its roaring sound.

In their effort to add a bit of supernatural these characters shift the stage on the largest fresh water lake Superior nestled in the pristine beauty of the woods. The lake and the woods together build a fairy castle made of silver and golden threads. The soft sound of ripples makes it a relaxing oasis of serenity. Peeping through the curtain of mist the lake awaits the rising of the red sun and mildly lapping its waves requests the characters to wait for the arrival of the grand master of the orchestra. A family of ducks cheers the entry of sun on the stage by flapping the webs in the water .The flip flop sound on water responds to the rhythm created by the soft crashing of waves of the lake on the stony shore .Is this the music coming from  the heavenly spheres? I do not know but this is perhaps the most pleasant sound on earth and conjures up pure magic. Happily and lazily the world comes out of its slumber and gets ready for a different more boisterous scene.

Lend your ears just once to these silent woods and the moist whispering sounds coming from all the directions will drench your being in blessedness impossible to be found in the glittering artificial world.