The Fascination of Fens, Bogs, & Swamps
Once I received my copy, I filled it with post-it notes and marginalia. So many exclamation points in this book, y’all. It’s mind-blowing and despairing how common and widespread fens, bogs, and swamps were. In America and Great Britain, these bastions of environmental diversity were almost wiped out to make way for farmland. Some areas are scrambling to restore these natural wetlands to their original state, now that the damage we’ve caused is becoming apparent. Others have a visceral disdain for their local wetland, including its impact on the local economy and transportation, and they want to see it gone for good.
Creativity and Observation
As a reader and writer, I’ve learned that just about anything can spark creativity. Reading Proulx’s thoughts on wetlands was akin to reading a book on craft. In her introduction to the book, she explains how this project was initially intended to be a personal essay but evolved into a book. I think a lot of writers can relate to that. She uses both research and memories to give information, sprinkling personal anecdotes throughout, which allows the book to flow seamlessly.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when she spoke of “repetitive observation,” a practice many scientists employed, particularly before the advent of modern technology, such as cameras, to document changes in the environment. Henry David Thoreau employed this method of “looking carefully” when he walked for miles every spring between tuberculosis flare-ups to observe when wild plants bloomed. His written observations, like those of other scientists and naturalists of the time, became essential for contemporary scientists to understand the environmental changes that occurred at that point in history and the rate at which they happened.
I return to that passage often, reminding myself that such a simple act — walking and noticing — can create patterns of meaning. Even more abstractly, in a world of constant doomscrolling and addictive social media, this portion reminded me of the importance of simply observing the world.
At this point, the act doesn’t have to be miles trekked on a day-to-day basis. It can be simple: Look up, look carefully, and when something catches your eye, write it down.
