The Soul of Pearl Beach

Chose a phrase or a sentence from Emerson’s essay “Nature” that really struck you as being accurate to your own experience of nature. Write a paragraph that captures an experience of nature of your own that supports what you understand to be Emerson’s vision of nature

My entire body began to ring as the final bell shot through me, signalling the end of my high school life. My mind was racing; and it wasn’t long before my legs followed, taking me all the way to the one place that comforts me the most. As I walked through the prickly off-bush trail along the coast-line of pearl beach I found myself hypnotised as the waves bubbled over the sun-kissed formations, rolling in and out, in and out. I stopped for a minute, allowing my asthmatic ridden lungs to absorb the sea air and my breath to fall in time with the slow rolling of the waves. As I continued to walk the trail, memories beyond memories rushed over me. A single arching rock that protruded from the depths of the sand like a weed that had pushed itself through the cracks of concrete, yet so out of place brought me the most- sweetest of memories. I am transported back to my best friends 16^th birthday where a fire crackled beneath the arch of the rock and the stars glistened the water below. It was a peaceful night with nothing but youthful love and hearty laughs. I remember the roar of the waves crashing against the rocks snapping me back into the present time as the sun began to set, emanating perfect brush-strokes of pinks and purples against the portrait of the skies. As I turned to leave this picturesque wonder, a spray-painted eye on an oddly shaped rock captured my attention. It seemed to fit flawlessly into the image that was being painted before me. I took a minute to take this sight in and absorb every part of it before I snapped a picture and walked away; leaving behind me yet another memory and piece of myself for the nature to inhale to play back for me on another day.

Emerson states within his essay ‘Nature: “Who looks upon a river in a meditative hour, and is not reminded of the flux of all things? Throw a stone into a stream, and the circles that propagate themselves are the type of all influence” (ch.IV). This particular part of Emerson’s essay resonated with my experiences as I  believe what Emerson is articulating here is that we are a part of nature and nature is a part of each and every one of us. Keeping this concept in mind I think back to that last day of school and wonder why it was that I was drawn to the nature during this monumental moment. Was it because I knew that this place was a part of me? Perhaps I knew that nature would take this memory and hold onto it for me? As I now live in the city, I have become used to the bustling concrete jungle that I now call home, however, it does not make me feel the same emotions as I do when standing on the coast line of pearl beach looking into the horizon. As I think back to that eye staring back at me, I see my own consciousness within it. It is almost as if this eye represents my own third eye as the nature whispers back to me in our own language the memories of my entire youth embedded within every nook and cranny of the natural elements. I believe that Emerson was saying that this is the exact kind of connectedness we should aim to achieve. Nature grabs parts of our soul and latches onto it, keeping it tightly sealed for those moments when we feel drawn to run back to it.

Emerson, Waldo Ralph. “Nature”. American Transcendentalism Web, https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/essays/naturetext.html, accessed August 20^th, 2019.

Feature image: Pearl beach – Taken by myself