This is an old post from my former blog, which featured the category The Writer’s Thoughts.
I love watching nature docus (I know, hundreds are switching off right now and think I’m some sad David Attenborough groupie) but these kind of docus are useful because there are signs in nature for those who reflect:
[“And He it is Who spread the earth and placed mountains and streams in it and inserted in it two pairs of each kind of fruit. He covers the day with the night. Certainly, there are signs in these matters for a people who reflect.” – Quran, Surah Ar-Rad 13:3]
What can we learn from nature? The signature of God. His Mark, His Presence is signed throughout the world. As writers we can draw inspiration from the natural world for our poetry and stories. If you’re ever stuck for ideas go outside. Look carefully at places of natural beauty and let nature be your muse.
Salmon swim upstream
In pursuit of happiness
Finally they die.
That was an Alaskan salmon’s biography in the form of haiku!
I remember learning about the life of Alaskan salmon years ago through a documentary and for some reason I recalled their amazing life cycle today and decided they should be the basis of today’s The Writer’s Thoughts…
I hope I have remembered the documentary accurately…The Alaskan salmon starts its life in freshwater, grows to the stage of smolt and then travels to saltwater (namely, the Pacific Ocean). There, they spend a few years feeding and growing to adult size. After this time passes, they make the arduous journey back to their place of birth. They struggle against the current upstream and some are picked off by bears and other hazards. Those who pass every challenge finally reach the very stream they were born in. How utterly amazing. It’s incredible how they instinctively endeavour to return to their home streams, even though the journey is phenomenally difficult. After finally reaching home, they lay eggs and then promptly die. 🙁
The life of a salmon is so poignant and fascinating. It’s a lot like me right now – striving to get back home. Anyway, that’s one of the many odd thoughts pulled from the pensieve of my head today. I’ll leave you to research salmon and marvel over their incredible, instinct-driven lives. Being blasé here with this last thought but when you feel down, just think: at least I’m not a salmon.
Coming soon – more Tips for Writer’s!
TheLondonAuthor