- Listenly
- Public Library
- Dallas Lore Sharp
- The Lay of the Land
Chapters
Description
In a quiet November night, a solitary observer slips into a flooded meadow, buttoning his heavy coat against the biting wind. From a hidden bend in the river he watches a colony of muskrats laboriously raise a mud‑and‑reed lodge, a sturdy dome that will shield them from the coming winter. Their methodical teamwork, the rhythm of their construction, and the stark contrast between the human’s prepared home and the animals’ urgent ingenuity set a contemplative tone.
Through the muskrats’ struggle, the narrative gently explores themes of foresight, cooperation, and the quiet resilience of wildlife facing seasonal hardships. The narrator’s reflections on the animals’ instinctive planning echo larger questions about how all creatures, great and small, anticipate change. Listeners are invited into a lyrical meditation on nature’s cycles, the perseverance of the modest, and the subtle wisdom that can be found in observing the smallest of builders.
Details
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (239K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2015-12-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
About the author
Dallas Lore Sharp
1870–1929
A warm, observant nature writer and teacher, he brought birds, fields, woods, and changing seasons close to everyday readers. His books celebrate the life just beyond the doorstep rather than far-off wilderness.
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