Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. 'Nothing in particular,' she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.
How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter's sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me.
-Helen Keller, Three Days to See (1933)
NB: Helen Keller was deaf-blind.
If I had a word
for every time
I wished that I
could make you smile
I'd write you a book
and not just this poem.
---
I got this poem published in the university's literary magazine last semester and felt inspired to post if for you, my dear friends and family (and a few strangers too, I guess), tonight.
3 comments:
I might have told you this before, but I read that poem in AmLit and smiled, as it's a very smile-inducing bit of writing.
Hope you're feeling better.
it's so touching...thanks for sharing :)
Post a Comment