I went to Yosemite for Chinese New Year last Sunday, the mountain was covered with white snow. The branches and the leaves of the trees were wrapped in crystal ice. When wind passed through them, you could hear the chimes created by the waving leaves and the twigs. They sounded like the ringing of silver bells. It reminded me so much of the Winters in my beloved hometown of Yue Lu mountain.
The road leading from the valley to the top of the mountain was long and rugged, it took me several laborious hours to reach to the top of Half Dome. When I finally got there, it was already approaching dusk, the mountain air was fresh and clear, I could see miles away into every direction, nothing obstructed my views. The sinking Sun burned the clouds over the horizon into red, orange, and other beautiful colors; it also plated the white cloak of the mountains with a thin layer of gold reddish hue. The scene was just breath taking. By this time the temperature began to dip, the hikers were all but totally disappeared. The mountain became deadly quiet. nobody was around, you could hear nothing but the occasional wailing of the wind.
Suddenly, a howl in the distance broke the tranquility, it was long, sad, and almost thoughtful. Its echoes resonated between mountain cliffs. I shivered, and turned my head to search for the source of the mournful tune.
On the peak of the other mountain, next to a pine tree and on the top of a huge rock, sat this big yellowish wolf. His fur basked in the rays of the dropping Sun. He sat there, with a raised head, looking into the sky where the stars began to twinkle faintly and the new moon began to appear, the edge of his silhouette reflected the last ray of the red Sun. At this time, two or three other wolves joined the howling too, I could not see them, but I could hear them clearly. They howled one after another, one howl started just when the other tapered off. The sound of this wild symphony rolled over mountains like waves. I was excited, a bit scared, and deeply moved, but mostly, I was very grateful that I had a chance to attend a nature's special outdoor concert on a culture's special day.
After all, how many times you can welcome the coming of the rabbit by lying under the sky and "listen to the wolves" (sorry, Kevin Costner), right?
ha-ha.
Take care,
Davis Liu (劉繼海) Jan, 1999 Fair Oaks
