"Memoirs of a Pine Tree" by Henry Livingston (1792) - illustrated

YouTube ^ | 1792 | Henry Livingston

[mairdie]

This prose piece was published by Henry Livingston in the New-York Magazine in February, 1792. It describes the world as seen from the point of view of a pine tree first emerging from its cone. Narrated by Byron Nilsson and illustrated.

[mairdie]

I'm finding that I'm understanding the prose more when I hear it than when I read it, and even more when I see it illustrated. I'm actually surprised.

[mairdie]

PING

[DannyTN]

If it ends with a young boy tossing the pine comb onto a giant pile of pine straw and then pouring gasoline or kerosine on it and lighting it, then I might have been there.

But I admit nothing.

[mairdie]

After I over-wooded our fireplace last evening, that image hits hard. Trust me. I’ll keep your secret.

[DannyTN]

We had 28 of the longleaf pines that just dumped massive amounts of pine straw and huge pine combs when I was young. We would have piles of straw and combs 20 feet high.

We were constantly raking and burning.

[mairdie]

Behind our house are pine trees, but I never knew the fallen needles were called pine straw. I used to buy pillows of the strongly smelling needles at Mt Washington. Mine seem to have no smell. Just saw a webpage on eating pine trees for survival. With recipes.

[freedumb2003]

“Last words for a pine.” A Poem:

TIIIIMMMMBBBEEERRRRRRR!!!

Thank you

[mairdie]

Applause. The sort of poem I’d have expected to be recited in Greenwich Village during the 30’s.

[bgill]

“Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible.”, Euell Gibbons.

[Aquamarine]

Loved viewing American history through Henry Livingston's pine tree, know you must have enjoyed doing this one.

[mairdie]

Oh, I did! I really get off on this being written before 1800 - over 200 years ago! It’s like reading the newspapers of the time. It’s not reading about history. It’s becoming part of history.

[mairdie]

That’s the page!

[Aquamarine]

This video reminds me of the Indian story that Nan and I created at the Finest years ago.

The Spirit of the Old Dominion

[mairdie]

Oh, that was WONDERFUL, Aqua! Congratulate nan for me when you get the chance.

Very strange. We’re such peaceful people, we are, yet we read such exciting adventures. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the book I’m currently reading is Caesar’s Gallic Wars. I’m listening to W.E.B. Griffin’s Presidential Agent series, and for some strange reason Caesar’s discussions of tactics makes more sense than they did in Latin when I was 14.

[Redcitizen]

At the end, It was pining for the fjords.

[Aquamarine]

Just finished reading Flying off Rattlesnake Mountain. It's about an Aviation pioneer who lived in my community. He had a patent for his flying apparatus but his family sold the patent to the Redwine brothers after he died..

[YogicCowboy]

Well written prose is better read aloud. As such, I think it functions much as does poetry.

[YogicCowboy]

For a different take on lyric and music regarding that phylum, I recommend:

“A Day in the Life of a Tree”, by The Beach Boys, from the album, Surf’s Up.

(This is far from surf music, despite the title. It is avant rock/pop.)

[Daffynition]

You may have purchased balsam pine needles. Their fragrance is long lasting.

E.g.: http://www.vermonttradewinds.com/product/DRB

DIY Balsam pillow: http://www.adirondacklifemag.com/blogs/2015/12/10/how-to-make-a-balsam-pillow/

[mairdie]

That was fascinating. Never heard it. Never heard OF it. Really glad for the link.