Solitude by the Sluggish Stream

As one walks close to the area on the side of the road, they don’t notice that past the bushes is a little creek where only a few solitary organisms reside. Beside the road next to my neighborhood lies a creek that runs across and divides the two sides of the neighborhood. On the outskirts of this quiet habitat are various bushes and plants intertwined to produce the border that link the busy street to the quiescent area of mother nature that confines its womb in solitude. This creek runs under a wide bridge that connects the two sides of the street. Many have come here, but they usually do not have the patience to look for the joys in nature, but rather they go back to their houses to become more involved with technology. The creek- overwhelmed with plants and trees, bugs and insects, streams and reeds- is a place where I can relax and remind myself that nature is a special part of this world.

When I walk past the bushes, my senses are overwhelmed with vivid and audacious images, sounds, and smells. Everywhere I look reminds me of the days when my friends and I would make movies, and the time when we would come here alone, seeking a place to be by ourselves, and have the day to relax. From the wooden boards clustered on the ground, from the little trail leading to the other side, from the great tree standing upright, dominating everything else, I could see that many things remained the same, and that the nearby society does not impact this comforting zone very much. I see many things that kept my childhood joyful and entertaining. We would use wooden boards to get across the water to the other side, while maneuvering through a jungle of reeds and cat tails that grew above our heads. We would film ourselves here because of the lack of noise and busy streets. The tree that stood in the middle, split on the side, with a great branch hanging over was strong enough to hold our body weight, still lies there, like it was an ancient relic.

When I divulge myself deeper into the nature, farther away from the busy urban road, I realize that I become more in tune with nature. I hear the scuttling of little creatures, the songs of birds sitting in the trees, and most of all, the sound of nature that resides in anyone who has the patience to hear it. Lizards and bugs make quiet sounds as they run up the trees, and ducks swim through making splashing noises, and gliding ever so gently across the water, kicking to propel themselves with the slightest ease. When I sit down on the nearest rock, half-covered with moss, I can take in even the slightest details, like a photographer capturing all of their happiest moments to appreciate them later. Often, a lizard runs across the dusty trails to stalk it’s prey, taking every caution to not be noticed.

The aroma of many varieties of plants and flowers drifted upon me, and I was pleased to see so many different plants that could brighten my day a little. Flowers that had a mixture of colors, like yellow, blue, purple, and red had recently grown and drew my attention right away. These flowers, growing by the side of the stream, bring a positive attitude, and even roses with their spear-like thorns, can help give the area a nice feeling. There are a few strawberry bushes hiding behind some of the bushes, and if one comes at the right time, they can taste the juicy and sweet fruit for themselves, straight from the plant. I stumbled upon these, and after a lengthy search for any spiders or insects, I decided to eat a few strawberries that had grown fairly large. The trees that were around have a rough skin, also called bark, and when I leaned up on the tree for support, I could feel the scratchy skin with my hand, and I saw a few assortments for insects and bugs around: a ladybug clinging to a hanging branch, a hairy, black spider crawling up the bark, and a beetle at the foot of the tree circling around, appearing to have trouble climbing up. My personal favorite is the stream that runs gracefully down past the bridge. It is not very entertaining, but it is very interesting. It runs as though agile and smooth, and even though rocks and sticks penetrate the vulnerable surface, it keeps its shape, and runs until the end, persevering, like someone trying to finish a marathon. Many things are available to watch, but one must have the patience to look for them.

This is a peaceful place where one can find that its small, but quiet, and they can have some time for themselves. All the qualities that the creek provides, and all the organisms that are encased in here create a feeling of happiness and tranquility. This area separates the busy society from the part of nature that stays intact and is there for the people who need it. When I come, I listen, I watch, I think, I learn. I find that when I am so overwhelmed with personal thoughts and chores and homework and drama and relationships, I can wander upon this mysterious place and try to keep my thoughts straight. Peaceful, isolated, encouraging- the creek provides an area where one can think and listen to nature to help themselves overcome challenges.


--Travis