Lost Words

In 2007, the Oxford Junior Dictionary dropped forty common words concerning nature. In 2018, Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris co-authored, The Lost Words, “ a spell book that conjures back twenty of these lost words and the beings they name from acorn to wren”.

In 2020, MacFarlane and Morris published The Lost Spells. Last weekend, I found a copy at the Mad Hatter bookstore in Annapolis Royal.

“ To enchant means both to make magic and to sing out. So let these spells ring far and wide; speak their words and seek their art, let the wild world into your eyes, your voice, your heart”

It starts with Red Fox and ends with Silver Birch, a lullaby. At the end is a glossary of sixty-four species.

“Seek each flower and insect in these pages, speak each creature, find each tree. Then take this book to wood and river, coast and forest, park and garden; use it there to look, to name, to see.”

The book is a beautiful combination of language and art. It is designed to be read aloud. It includes a glossary and quiz — to find these species in nature.

Could we apply the same approach to ‘our nature’?

Last weekend, Peter Nicholson and Jeff Larsen published an opinion piece in the Chronicle Herald (D4) entitled “Welcome to InnovScotia — Six Ways to Build Back Better Post-pandemic“. While I can agree with their six strategies, my focus would be to promote ‘local-hood’. For example, can we develop a new language/art of landscape in Nova Scotia? How would we begin?

My suggestion, re-read Ernest Buckler’s Ox Bells and Fireflies in combination with Harold Horwood’s ‘The Magic Ground’.

Peter Nicholson uses the term ‘InNova- Scotia’. My approach would redefine the term to ‘In Nova Scotia’, with the emphasis on the geography. Consult with our leading ‘nature writers’ e.g Harry Thurston and others. Study the relationship between language (MacFarlane) and art (Morris), then apply to the present landscape.

As I mentioned to Edward, what we need is ‘the Inside Story’. This is a bit of a joke, since Edward and Anne used to run the bookstore, The Inside Story in Greenwood.

Postscript

Frank Fox sent me a link from the Guardian. That land has more value if left to Nature than if farmed. Interesting economics.

Acknowledgements

Edward brings his artist mind to every blog. Rocky Hebb challenged me on the blog format. Heather and Siqsiq share our walks in Nature.

References

Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris, 2018, The Lost Words, Anansi Press.

Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris, 2020, The Lost Spells, Anansi Press.

Peter Nicholson and Jeff Larsen, 2021, Welcome to InnovaScotia — Six Ways to Build Back Better Post-pandemic, Chronicle Herald March 6. Page D4.

Ernest Buckler, 1968, Ox Bells and Fireflies, McClelland and Stewart, New Canadian Library, N99.

Harold Horwood, 1996, The Magic Ground, Nimbus Publishing.