I can watch elephants (and elephants alone) for hours at a time, for sooner or later the elephant will do something very strange such as mow grass with its toenails or draw the tusks from the rotted carcass of another elephant and carry them off into the bush. There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.
–Peter Matthiessen, The Tree Where Man Was Born
Photo: Lukas Holas. Quote: via Schonwieder
Live & Learn 
This passage captures the allure of these giant creatures so perfectly. This is another ‘must go into the queue,’ isn’t it pal?
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Yes Lori. I’ve had Snow Leopard in my cue for years. I need to get after it.
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wisdom, strength, and compassion, all rolled into one.
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….into one giant package!
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Please, protect them! Don’t abuse them … we may soon not have any left!!
… ‘There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.’
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God Yes, Horty. Yes. I looked at this photo when I came across it, and my heart slumped. We must protect them.
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🙏🏽🙏🏽
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Majestic creatures, they are. Like Lori said… another (plus the addition) to add to my queue…
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And not to forget They have phenomenal memories too – much needed to remember where food is stored (and not only to remember friends and enemies). Wish dearly that their survival is possible. Such magic, such gentleness in such a large body!
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Moved Kiki. Thanks for sharing
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A long time ago I read At Play in the Fields of the Lord, and I loved the book. I just had a look at Wikipedia and learned that Mathiessen died in 2014 of leukemia at the age of 86, Too bad! I think people with talents like his should be allowed to live as long as they want, so we won’t be deprived of the gifts they give the world.
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Profound. And I agree!
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I too believe he was living on a higher plane…and we need more of him, much more, today.
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Yes, for sure!
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Reflecting on their big hearts and bodies right now. 💕
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