“The river is the ruling presence of this place. Here one is always under its influence. … But of all the creatures, except the fish, I think the swallows enjoy the river most. Whole flocks of barn swallows and rough wings will spend hours in the afternoon and evening circling and dipping over the water, feeding, bathing, drinking—and rejoicing, too, as I steadfastly believe, for I cannot imagine that anything could fly as splendidly as the swallows and not enjoy it.”
—Wendell Berry, The Long-Legged House
