SHOT IN THE BARK

On Monday, June 1, 2015, Martin Law <martin.rainbowmaker@gmail.com> wrote:

I took thirty shots of bark for a background, or is it a barkground? The bark of trees is as diverse as the bark of dogs, but much easier on the ears.

I find myself with a surplus of (not to be wasted) very visually interesting images of varieties of local bark. For seven days and nights since then (which felt like three weeks), wondering in earnest what could be said by way of relevance in presenting them that would be more than just superfluous words.

“What do you say about bark? Speak now!” The question takes on the force of a Zen koan, (a spiritual test question unanswerable on its own terms) where rational contrivance is not acceptable as an authentic answer. It has to be demonstrated, and without even a hair’s breadth of hesitation.

Well, we all know what a dog would say when asked about bark. Never failing to hit the mark, spontaneously instantaneous, authentic, unequivocal, succinct, with nothing one could add. You ask about bark, i show you. “Bark!”

In the same spirit, the images speak for themselves. They are the answer. I show you. Yet, humans are a little different, dualistically speaking. We intellectualize, compulsively.

We talk about, which is to say, around, and dive straight into a tangle of related concepts, constructs, ideas, opinions, other than the immediate unmediated reality in question. You ask about bark? I give you bark.

Furthermore i give you what is not bark, or Zen for that matter. Being nothing but a string of images and clashing symbols, the sort that make a lot of noise but mostly in your head, while thinking it’s called thinking.

I suppose relatively few people ever think about bark anyway. Except those who love and respect the life of trees.

Their intrinsic beauty as much as their multi-faceted usefulness, which is one and the same.

Other than just chopping, burning, clearing, and constructing, with more regard for quantity than quality and nature. When even the cork of the wine bottle you just popped comes from bark.

People who call themselves civilized have an outstanding talent for deforestation which they call progress. Depending on which way you’re heading when you can’t see the wood for the trees.

The way generally being, that which the wood is in the way of. When questioned about 

 ‘where is your habit at’,

 the excuse is,  

“i’m trying to cut them down.”

By stark contrast, take a shame faced look, or a leaf out of the book, (book, a word originating from the Germanic term for beech, and birch.) A look at the wisdom of the peoples we are pleased to call un-civilized.

A good example being the Indians of Turtle Island, (WE-dah pah-T’KAH-sha-nah), which we were told to call america.

The eek-CHAY-we-CHOSH-tah don’t like to be called native americans, understandably. Being,’ The People’ (with the added language equivalent of which people.) For example: Arapahoe (Mahpiyato), the Blue Sky People. Or Chippewa, (HaHAtonwon), the People from the Waterfalls.

First nations people anyway, originally 555 distinct yet interrelated nations. That is, until the second, third, and fourth etc. people barged in, ironically talking of 666. Easy to comprehend not wishing to be called ‘native americans’, and with a shrug, temporarily settling for Indians, and who in their right heart would dare or deign to blame them?

So, continuing to bark up the right tree: The Indians in California used pitch of the

PINYON PINE for, skin problems, digestive problems, colds, flu, tuberculosis, venereal disease, sore muscles, rheumatism, fevers, parasites, sunburn, bark as ingredient in emergency foods, tea, burns, earache, dyes, glue (for arrows etc.), waterproofing, nuts for cakes, puddings, butter, beetle-proofing, looms, saddle parts, cradles, tools, toys.

JUNIPER, for: Kidney problems, heart troubles, haemorrhages, stomach-aches, head-aches, menstrual and other cramps, colds, fevers, smallpox, flu, pneumonia, venereal, diabetes, cholera, tuberculosis, chickenpox, worms, swellings, burns, sore throats, hives, sores, horse-ticks, torch for tinder, smoke bath to calm children, protection from witches or bears.

ASPEN, to prevent premature birth, bark as sweet treat for children, purification, whistles, stings, abscesses, urinary problems, canoes, cups, cords, deodorant, antiperspirant.

FIR and PINE, to heal cuts, boils, bones, throats, colds, kidneys, fevers, and for gum, sugar, bows, poles, beds, floors, fish-hooks, flavouring, nets, sealing water jugs, antiseptic, anti-bleeding. In fact, food, shelter, clothing, tools, medicine, the list is endless, and that’s only four trees.

So i’ll stop yapping, but if you think my bark is worse than my bite, i can assure you, with my dental situation, the reverse

is true. ‘WOOF-WOOF’! <

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~ Martin Rainbowmaker ~