A cluster of seals rises behind the skiff when I idle away from Peril Island. I feel as if they’re ushering me off, and as if the other animals are watching with relief while I depart: the seals stretched out on warm rocks; the blinking oystercatchers; the fretting gulls and shorebirds; the eagle who flew when I arrived; the peregrine, perched in some distant tree or soaring invisibly against the sun’s corona. I can almost sense the whole place breathing out as its tranquility returns. My deepest impression is that Peril Island and its animals belong to one another, and that there is no rightful place among them for humans.
~ Richard Nelson, The Island Within
Notes: Photo Credit: conservationaction.com. Related Posts: “Richard Nelson”, The Island Within
Live & Learn 
don’t mess with their peace, man! )
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Exactly…
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Fewer and fewer unspoiled places left these days. I can imagine that the inhabitants of Peril Island are happy enough to be left alone. This passage brought to mind a NH artist I recently discovered: Gretchen Hill Woodman. Getting ready to write a feature about her. https://www.gretchenwoodman.net/ Have a great weekend, pal…
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Yes, so agree Lori. I’m off to check out Gretchen’s work.
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She’s great!
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Yes, and the photos don’t do her work justice. I saw it last weekend and when I tell you that one just falls into the eyes of that young moose, I am not adequately describing the sensation. Her use of graphite powder is magnificent…it allows her to create images of such depth and sensitivity, never mind the thought-provoking subject matter. Her goal is to get the viewer to slow down, stop, look, and think about the animals in our world and our relation to them. How do we see them? DO we see them? I find her work arresting. Can’t wait to write the story….
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Be sure you drop a link to your story please…
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Ahhh, thx, pal, will do….
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I was wondering WHERE such an island could still exist in our time and I’m glad to learn that its name will not be given away. Made me sigh with the wonder of it and happy to know that such places STILL (for now) do exist.
Wishing you and your readers a happy, carefree Saturday and great weekend. Kiki
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I agree Kiki. Wonderful that he didn’t give away the name of the Island and its location.
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Early Saturday Morning … as the sun rises up!! … ‘there is no rightful place among them for humans.’ … indeed!!
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So much going on in what we perceive and evaluate, outside of ourselves… is such an invitation to focus inwards and appreciate different perspectives 💛
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That’s it Val.
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