Whether experienced outdoors or seen through a window, fog’s softening effect brings a sense of cosiness to Nova Scotia in springtime. Fog may be dense, accompanied by drizzle or thinning to a mist. It may arrive in the morning and dissipate by noon, or still be seen rolling down the street in wafts of whiteness at midday.
Foggy days with reduced visibility force us to look inward. When the path that lies ahead and the one that lies behind us are both blurred, it makes sense to rely on our intuition for direction.
It also helps to listen carefully. Fog consists of tiny water droplets, which allow sound to travel more quickly. If we would slow down and listen to what is being whispered to us in the fog, we’d gain better insight into the path before us.
The fog is rolling over the hill
Winding twining rock and rill.
Softer and kinder than the light
Takes what’s sharp and wraps it white.I will walk down by the foggy sea
Where the rocks are weeping silently.
That love that was once so bright and bold
Has turned itself to cold.And so I love a foggy night
I walk and walk to my heart’s delight.
The fog’s cool kiss upon my face
All sorrow will erase.The fog is rolling over the bay
It drifts my heart so far away.
Softer and kinder than the light
Takes what’s sharp and wraps it white.~ Rose Vaughan, Song of the Fog
Wow… I had goosebumps reading this.
And I love this line: “When the path that lies ahead and the one that lies behind us are both blurred, it makes sense to rely on our intuition for direction.”
Beautiful and so wise.
Glad you liked the line Reggie 🙂
I was hoping to find a video of ‘The Song of the Fog’ on Youtube but didn’t have any luck. It’s sung by Nova Scotians, Rita and Mary Rankin, who also sing in Gaelic. Their beautiful, haunting voices give ME goosebumps.
I just knew I was going to love today’s photos as soon as I read your title…and I wasn’t disappointed. Fog always makes me melancholy and thoughtful….
I think I first fell in love with Nova Scotia about ten years ago. I sang in a chorale group and the spring concert was all music from NS – haunting is a perfect way to describe some of it though there were some rollicking fishing tunes.
Cindy, fog changes how I feel too. I’d miss it if the weather was always clear.
Nova Scotia has more than its share of musical talent. Celtic and Gaelic music are very popular here.
Received your card today 🙂 Hope those hollyhocks grow well for you 🙂
I have always loved fog. There is something so peaceful and calming about it, and quiet!
Kate, I love it too. It IS calming, and seems to require so little of us.
Beautiful poem to go with your photos. Don’t get a lot of fog around here but when I see it I love to experience it.
Scott, that beautiful poem sounds even more wonderful set to music. We had fog again today. I try not to take it for granted.
The fog makes you feel soft…just looking at the photos and feeling the mist swirling around.
Kathy, isn’t it wonderful how weather can incite so many different feelings? No wonder we talk about it all the time.
As usual wonderful pics. Wonderful words.
I love the fog too !
Best wishes from sunny Ontario !
Sybil
Sybil, I’m sure there will be more foggy days to enjoy upon your return.
Fog is so romantic… there are some hauntingly beautiful movie songs shot in the fog.
You’re right swaps 🙂 I think fog creates the same ambience outdoors that candlelight creates indoors.
Fog reminds us that the world can still be mysterious…
Love the pics – especially the 2nd one, Flan – “Where is the path leading…?” – very poignant!
I like the idea that although fog obscures our visual senses, at the same time it heightens the aural… like Nature is actively reminding us not to forget the value of sound in a very visual world…
Pepsoid, I think we all need more mystery in our lives. Sometimes we can receive too much of what we don’t need from the visual world.
You probably have lots of fog in your neck of the woods in GB. London’s fog is the stuff of gothic novels and murder mysteries.
We certainly do!
I haven’t witnessed much London fog (it could perhaps be a mini-ambition of mine!), but the fog that settles in the valleys of my childhood haunts of Shropshire certainly enshroud the mind in mystery….. 🙂
This makes me so very homesick. But it’s a lovely post.
[…] The Softness of Fog, […]