A few moments of silence

~ Live & Learn

rain.jpg

Standing out there in the downpour, beyond the green rows of a new garden. He was bent far over before the flat gray sky in what appeared to be an attitude of prayer or adoration, his arms at his sides. The rain had plastered his shirt to his back and his short black hair glistened. He did not move at all while I stood there, fifteen or twenty minutes. And in that time I saw what it was I had wanted to see all those years…The complete stillness, a silence such as I had never heard out of another living thing, an unbroken grace.

~ Barry Lopez, from “Field Notes: The Grace Note of the Canyon Wren”

Notes:

  • Inspired by: 5:08 a.m. 55° F. Quiet. A cool breeze flows through the open window. The pitter patter of soft rain falls on the Earth on this Memorial Day, May 29, 2017
  • Photo: Ponychan
  • Thank you Christie for introducing me to Barry Lopez.

15 thoughts on “A few moments of silence”

  10. Dave, you are most welcomed…I am glad you like the way Barry Lopez crafts his words…I am excited to find out about his book on ‘Rivers’ part of a trilogy: ‘Deserts’, ‘River’ and ‘Field Notes’

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  11. In the passage you quoted, ” green rows of a new garden” “The complete stillness, a silence”…”an unbroken grace” when I initially read that passage yesterday I thought of the rows and rows of White Headstone at Arlington National Cemetery…the stillness, the silence..and how those men and women “Graced Us” with their Love of Their Fellow Man…and the “Unbroken” gratitude, I hold in my heart honoring them…

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  12. Coincidentally, last night I heard part of an interview of an author Ron MacDonald, speaking of his book: Arlington Anthology Field of Honor “Across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., lies this nation’s most sacred of grounds, Arlington National Cemetery. Upon these hollowed grounds are buried some of our nation’s finest from as far back as the Revolutionary War to today. Some 310,000 men and women call Arlington their final resting place. Here lie two of our nation’s Presidents, honored statesmen, explorers, literary figures, Chief Justices, and Astronauts. From our Generals and Admirals to the common soldier and sailor rest here as do some 3,800 former slaves who fled to freedom call Arlington their home. It is their stories that beg to be heard, stories of courage against insurmountable odds, of love of brother and country, and of sacrifice. Stories of hopes and dreams and choices made during adversity. It is thru these stories that we to can learn that one person can make a difference and that thru valor and bravery the course of this country and the life of each and every one of us has been changed. These noble souls, who reside here, still live with us, and bid us to think of life, not death and to listen and learn what they have done who now rest in Arlington.” https://outskirtspress.com/arlingtonanthology
    He spoke of the first man laid to rest @ Arlington, he spoke of the female teenager Vinnie Ream, a sculptress .. In 1866, at the age of 18, Vinnie Ream was selected by the U.S. Congress to sculpt a memorial statue of President Abraham Lincoln. This made her the first female artist commissioned to create a work of art for the United States government. Ream had previously shown her ability to depict the president in a bust that she created from life in Washington. Her selection, however, was accompanied by controversy because she was young, female, and had friendships with members of Congress. Despite the objections, Ream was given the commission and the statue of Lincoln was unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda in 1871. Ream would later create sculptures for the National Statuary Hall Collection. https://www.aoc.gov/art/other-statues/abraham-lincoln-statue https://www.aoc.gov/capitol-hill/artists/vinnie-ream
    I believe he said, Vinnie Ream is laid to rest in Arlington…he spoke of others as well and the back stories are so interesting…
    Ron MacDonald, he has given honor to those laid to rest in Arlington, from the American Revolutionary Veteran to current time Veterans, so we won’t forget that these everyday people gave to their country and fellow man…
    Sounds like such a fascinating book… /// btw I’ve been told (after my Aunt, who was an award winning, scientist) researched for years compiling a family geology back in the early 1970’s that I am a descendant of a man (who I won’t publicly name) who’s life size bronze statue is in the Capitol Rotunda, National Statuary Hall, Washington DC. I was trilled a few months back to pick up a book on great homes (I was waiting for my hubby at the eye doctors) to see this man’s estate…it was neat to find out a little bit more about him…
    My family lived in DC metro for several years ..I loved seeing the photos of my siblings on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and other capitol highlights. My Mom loved seeing the Cherry Trees bloom every year and some of my siblings participated in the Easter Egg Hunt at the White House…ps I lived there, along the banks of the Potomac only my first 10 days of life…

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