--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A far cicada rings high and clear over…" description: "\"“A far cicada rings high and clear over the river’s heavy wash. Morning glory, a lone dandelion, cassia, orchids. So far from the nearest sea, I am tak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/peter-matthiessen-5795_beauty_a-far-cicada-rings-high-and-clear-over-t_421904.jpg" --- # A far cicada rings high and clear over the river’s heavy… ![“A far cicada rings high and clear over the river’s heavy wash. Morning glory, a lone dandelion, cassia, orchids. So far from the nearest sea, I am taken aback by the sight of a purple land crab, like a relict of the ancient days when the Indian subcontinent, adrift on the earth’s mantle, moved…” quote by Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/peter-matthiessen-5795_beauty_a-far-cicada-rings-high-and-clear-over-t_421904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/peter-matthiessen-5795_beauty_a-far-cicada-rings-high-and-clear-over-t_421904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/peter-matthiessen-5795_beauty_a-far-cicada-rings-high-and-clear-over-t_421904.jpg) > ““A far cicada rings high and clear over the river’s heavy wash. Morning glory, a lone dandelion, cassia, orchids. So far from the nearest sea, I am taken aback by the sight of a purple land crab, like a relict of the ancient days when the Indian subcontinent, adrift on the earth’s mantle, moved northward to collide with the Asian landmass, driving these marine rocks, inch by inch, five miles into the skies. The rise of the Himalaya, begun in the Eocene, some fifty million years ago, is still continuing: an earthquake in 1959 caused mountains to fall into the rivers and changed the course of the great Brahmaputra, which comes down out of Tibet through northeastern India to join the Ganges near its delta at the Bay of Bengal.”” [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on the awe‑inspiring natural history and geological forces that shape the Himalayas and surrounding ecosystems, highlighting humanity’s smallness amid deep time. **In simple terms:** Nature’s grandeur and deep time overwhelm human perspective. Key Takeaway Recognize our fleeting place in Earth’s long story. Themes nature geology humility history landscape Mood wonderful reflective humbling Type descriptive poetic educational When to use this quote - hiking - environmental education - conservation planning - geological fieldwork - travel writing Key Concepts plate tectonics erosion biogeography deep time Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing deep time affect our environmental responsibilities? - What emotions arise when confronting Earth’s ancient forces? 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