Word Conveying Reflection

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#136814 - 01/04/05 04:53 PM Re: is kumatage the same phenomenon as moonglade?
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10463 Loc: this too shall pass	I wonder also, mav.. <fade> Olive Oyl: Why is the moonlight shimmering in the water, Popeye? Popeye: sotto voce I yam what I yam... puffing on pipe and opening tin can Kumatage, Olive. http://www.math.pitt.edu/~bard/bardware/popeye/popeye1.gif
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#136815 - 01/04/05 05:06 PM Re: is kumatage the same phenomenon as moonglade?
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	So tsit back on the couch, tsuwm (move over, Milo!) and tell me how long you've had these issues about sailors...?
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#136816 - 01/04/05 05:17 PM Re: Word Conveying Reflection
drallie stranger Registered: 01/03/05 Posts: 3	"Oh, my GOODness!!" (to quote that little girl with the curly hair and dimples...). When Anu responded to my email by politely explaining "my limited time prevents me from doing justice to individual questions" and suggesting I post the question here, well.... I have known for several years that AWAD listmembers were creative and thoughtful folks; the depth to which some go to comment on individual words has been enormously pleasurable (not to mention educational!!). I didn't expect, however, that my little query (truly a vexing question for multiple years now) would generate this most wonderful threaded response. Thank you so very much!! Allison Bartlett
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#136817 - 01/04/05 05:39 PM Re: Word Conveying Reflection
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	So stick around if you feel like it, Allison. We're nutters, but mostly harmlesss...
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#136818 - 01/05/05 10:51 AM Can we quote you on that?
Owlbow enthusiast Registered: 10/21/03 Posts: 389 Loc: Rhode Island, USA	Hi Allison, That's what you get for asking such a good question. I've seen it many times before. I've learned much here.
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#136819 - 01/07/05 09:51 AM Good questions
belligerentyouth old hand Registered: 12/20/00 Posts: 1055 Loc: Berlin	>That's what you get for asking such a good question. >I've seen it many times before. I too have seen (and asked) similar questions before in various contexts. As it turns out there is little language to describe effects such as the moon's and sun's reflections on water. The effect provides endless fascination for many of us, and I’ve often questioned why this is. First of all if one looks at the water one can notice a symmetrical mirror image of, say, the moon in the water with the horizon as the 'fold' between the 'real' and reflected light – this is your classic ‘moonglade’. If one looks at the crests of waves, and little ripples gathering on a shoreline though, one recognizes endless little moons nested within the folds of water – just as each droplet on a car window holds an upside-down view of the view of outside relative to its own size. If one retreats to the distance of, say, the ISS, our moon’s reflection spans whole seas of course. Does the word ‘moonglade’ do all this justice? The idea of 'self-similarity across scales' and the scientific field called 'chaos theory' seems to have some pertinence here, but I’ll resist trying to relate anything ‘bout that. The bewildering thing though is that this 'organised chaos' (great term, hey) seems to be in practically everything we do - though this comes as little surprise to many ‘less educated’ people, I suppose. Much can be said on the topic, but it is infused with a mystery which the moon, oceans and seas, clearly embody. Water’s staggering power and potential for destruction has, of course, been made horrifically clear in recent weeks. And when you look into another person’s eyes standing on the water’s edge, and see in them the reflection of the water's reflection, of the moon's reflection of the sun's glow, there is a sense of very personal awe and universal beauty that can make your knees weak. "The sea isn't a place but a fact, and a mystery." Mary Oliver
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#136820 - 01/07/05 09:59 AM Re: Good questions
plutarch veteran Registered: 10/10/01 Posts: 1385	beauty that can make your knees weak There is beauty in your thought which can make knees weak [as well], belligerentyouth.
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#136821 - 01/07/05 10:28 AM Re: Good questions
Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 7184 Loc: Vermont	Mary Oliver one of my all-time favorite writers. just to think of her is to smile, and sigh with contentment and connection. _________________________ formerly known as etaoin...
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#136822 - 01/07/05 10:35 AM Re: Good questions
Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11578 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky	Crispy! Good to see you! How are you? Plutarch, if you thought that post was nice, you should see some of his poetry. I've still got a piece of it saved.
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#136823 - 01/07/05 10:58 AM Re: Good questions
Owlbow enthusiast Registered: 10/21/03 Posts: 389 Loc: Rhode Island, USA	Well said belligerentyouth. (Poetry? Could we be blessed with a sample please?) But speaking of empty boasts... Are we to believe that there are only 2 places in the world where moonbows can be seen? I plan on going to the several little local waterfalls that I know of, on clear full moon nights to investigate. If nothing else, it will be a good “excuse” to be out on a nice night. I might even be favored with some owl talk. I’ll let you know if I see or don’t see a bow. If I don’t, I guess I’ll just have to go to Kentucky.
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