The last part reminded me of Richard Mabey's book, "Nature Cure", which describes how the natural world enabled him to recover from severe depression. In the book he recounts how, finding a fledging swift lying in an attic, "with its crescent wings stretched out stiffly, unable to take off", he picks up the swift and hurls it out of the window. Instinct kicks in and the swift takes off. "It would not touch down again until it came to breed in two summers' time". This perpetual aerial motion becomes a leitmotif throughout
the book, in contrast to the living death of deep depression rendered in the image of an outdoorsman curled foetally in his bed all day, his face to the wall.
If anyone comes across this book it is well worth a read. The theme of the swift and its constant movement runs throughout the book.In the end Richard Mabey recovers from his depression, thanks to the healing power of nature and the love he finds with a woman called Poppy who shares his love of nature. It is a very moving and beautifully written book!
