"A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease"

John Muir's quote records the vibrant dance of trees in the throes of a storm, providing nature as a living symphony full of spirit and respect. At the beginning, Muir paints a brilliant picture of trees animated by the storm, using words like "thrilled", "bowing", "waving", and "tossing". These terms imbue the trees with life and enthusiasm, suggesting that they are not simply passive entities but active participants in nature's grand efficiency. The storm's roar acts as their conductor, managing a moment of overjoyed worship where each tree contributes its unique rhythm and motion to the general phenomenon.

Muir juxtaposes this vibrant scene with the subsequent calm, when the storm has actually passed and the trees fall quiet to the casual observer. However, he challenges us to reconsider this notion of silence. To "the outer ear", the trees may appear peaceful, yet Muir insists that "their songs never cease". This metaphorical assertion invites much deeper reflection on constancy and the hidden forces at work in nature. The trees' tunes, symbolic of their long-lasting existence and effect, continue beyond the immediate, tangible moment of the storm. Even in stillness, they interact through their steady existence, resilience, and the subtle methods they interact with their environment.

Ultimately, Muir's words advise us of the perpetual vitality within nature. Just as the trees stay connected to the rhythms of life even when not noticeably animated, so too may we find that underneath apparent stillness lies continuous energy and essence. Muir celebrates both the noticeable drama and the subtle, relentless whisper of nature's realities, urging us to listen beyond the surface area to appreciate the ongoing, quiet tunes of existence that improve our world.