Water, mountains, and woods are elements that evoke feelings of tranquillity and serenity, yet a closer look reveals that nature can be as terrifying as it is beautiful. This is the secret soon revealed to the author during her pilgrimages along the banks of Tinker Creek, in Roanoke County, where she retreated for a year at the age of twenty-seven.
When we decide not to limit ourselves to simple observation and instead immerse ourselves in every aspect of the natural world, the river and its surrounding landscape become as alive as our own gaze. A more attentive observer cannot miss nature's duality: on one hand, the constant wonder of beauty in every act of the animal kingdom; on the other, the awareness that every living being is a survivor in the struggle for life.
Even observing a simple stream can reveal the ambivalent meaning of the world and of life itself. An extraordinary example of this duality of beauty and horror is represented by an encounter with a giant water bug. During a walk, the author comes across a small frog behaving strangely: unlike all the others, which leap away in fear as she passes, this frog remains motionless and does not react. Intrigued, the scholar draws closer and realises what is happening: a giant water bug has latched onto the frog, having seized it with its front legs and immobilised it by injecting a powerful venom that dissolves its internal organs. It soon becomes clear that the insect is devouring the frog from the inside; its body appears smaller than the others because almost nothing but the amphibian's empty skin remains. As the author watches the feast with a mixture of horror and surprise, the bug lets go of its prey. The empty skin slowly sinks into the water, leaving the woman with a sense of disgust and wonder while the small aquatic predator swims away with unmatched grace, leaving a trail of ripples on the water's surface.
This paradox between the visual beauty and the predatory instinct of the insect reminds us that nature can offer moments of extreme grace and wonder, but it can also reveal unimaginable brutality. This story is an invitation to reflect on the complexity and balance of the natural world, where every form of life must adapt and survive to maintain its place in the eternal dance of existence.
