Transient

A transient undertakes short-lived travel. The length of the excursion itself may be long, but the intent is to move between and within places of interest in a relatively hasty fashion and this tendency, unfortunately, limits profundity. Plane and rail travel, a cruise by ship, a road trip by car or motorcycle, and even a bicycle offer ephemeral experiences—the traveller remains a stranger, an outsider. Although the sounds, tastes, and views may be all-absorbing, the curtain of transience impedes apprehension.

Saunterer

A saunterer, or one who saunters as defined by Henry David Thoreau, who embodied the term, “wears out no road.” Paddle, oar, and foot are the means of the saunterer who does not disturb the heron (Ardea herodias) on its perch with its bill sleepily tucked into its feathers. She plods with leisure and lets the bow of the canoe gently separate the reeds, the step of her foot shadows the path of the deer and the bear. The saunterer pays little heed to time and speed, and the liverleaf (Anemone acutiloba) that blooms in April is a nutrient for thought. 

Seeker

The seeker, too, is a wanderer who travels; however, her distance is short while her quest is vast. If marked at all, time (an imperfect ingredient) is measured by the angle of the sun, the length of the season, or the depth of the silence. The grass around her boots grow into the laces, and the black-capped chickadee (Poecil atricapilla) nests in her pocket. Language is learned and wisdom is offered, not tracked. Mystery yields and although the margins remain in shadow she earns a place in its memory.