landskein

Landskein: The weaving and braiding of horizon lines, often seen on hazy days in hill country, where the outlines of several hills or mountains are visible, each paler than the last. ‘Skein’ means a length of yarn or thread, or a flock of wild geese or swans in flight.

I'm not sure how this happened.  I made it to my late 40s without knowing that this word existed.  The phenomenon I've known for as long as I've admired mountain views.  Only a few years ago, however, did I learn the word for it.  I discovered it while reading an Orion magazine article written by contributor Leah Tyus back in September of 2020. 

It is an evocative, emotional, spiritual, and ethereal read that makes connections between observing birdlife and seeing human behavior.  It's about how our lives were changed considerably in 2020 by covid, by watching a Black man murdered by police officers, by seeing and hearing a white woman weaponize her privilege toward a Black man who simply insisted she follow the rules, by recognizing nature, seemingly in its many forms, can be brutal and ruthless while also being beautiful and affirming.  Some words provoke, in the best way -  interpretation, multiplicity, unraveling, unfamiliar, narratives, witnessed without judgement.  I can't do it justice with my humble review.  So just go read it.  Soak it in.  Embrace the language - lilting, and at times, quite poetic.  And think about her message.