Nov. 13 | The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen

Today, November 13, on page 238, in which our author observes that, after coming all the way to Crystal Mountain, he would actually be OK with not seeing the snow leopard whom we've been awaiting all this while, is my favorite part of the book, see the quote in extra below. Meanwhile, at home: It's not a particularly notable day.

Orange-eyed, golden-horned rutting goats ask, "Have you seen us now? Have you perceived us?"

Snow leopard taste: dry bread
Snow leopard sight: sun and moon in perfect equilibrium above the snows east to west; orange eyes
Snow leopard sound: rampant rump-rubbing; shoo
Snow leopard touch: traversing slopes with a zigzag technique
Snow leopard quote: "...I am but a harmless dung-seeker, like other Homo sapiens of their acquaintance."; "The bharal await me with the calm regard of ages."

Snow leopard word of the day: browse
Snow leopard notable:

"Unlike the true sheep, which forges straight ahead, the bharal, in its confrontations rears up and runs on the hind legs before crashing down into the impact, as true goats do..."

Snow leopard extra:

"If the snow leopard should manifest itself, then I am ready to see the snow leopard. If not, then...I am not ready to perceive it...and in the not-seeing I am content...That the snow leopard is, that it is here, that its frosty eyes watch us from the mountain—that is enough."

Love this.

Snow leopard gratitude: wonderful immersion in pure sheep-ness

Panthera progress: some newness and time for more editing grind

What is this? Blogging The Snow Leopard project.

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