In my travels over the hundred acres of the farm and its outbuildings, I spent a lot of time observing my surroundings. Much of the time, I was alone and so unspoken communications with wildlife encouraged me to wonder about our capacity to understand each other.
“Often I remained a few minutes in the shadows, surveying the yard beyond the cracked putty shrinking away from the glass, gazing at the winter skeletons of lilac bushes and native mountain laurel where a lonely bird might rest, tilting its head at me… as if beckoning me to spread my wings and join him as he flitted off to seek shelter from the cold that settled so deeply in those hills.”
from The Girl With the Black and Blue Doll, A Memoir of Childhood Depression
In the Shadows
/in blogIn my travels over the hundred acres of the farm and its outbuildings, I spent a lot of time observing my surroundings. Much of the time, I was alone and so unspoken communications with wildlife encouraged me to wonder about our capacity to understand each other.
“Often I remained a few minutes in the shadows, surveying the yard beyond the cracked putty shrinking away from the glass, gazing at the winter skeletons of lilac bushes and native mountain laurel where a lonely bird might rest, tilting its head at me… as if beckoning me to spread my wings and join him as he flitted off to seek shelter from the cold that settled so deeply in those hills.”
from The Girl With the Black and Blue Doll, A Memoir of Childhood Depression
Maya Angelou, on growing up.
/in blogMaya Angelou said, “I’m convinced that most people do not grow up… our real selves, the children inside, are still innocent and shy as magnolias.”
I certainly identify with her statement, and was very surprised to see that one with such a bigger than life persona- Maya Angelou- felt that way. But I do feel that it somewhat explains why we, as writers, have little hesitation to expose the white underbelly of our vulnerability to complete strangers. It helps to heal the child inside.