field notes:

1.17.2003

I've thought a lot about dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing. I value free time, quiet time, down time -- to the detriment of ambition, I work at building it into my days.

It's difficult to reconcile the dread and helplessness I feel in response to the day's news and the march towards war with surrender to the soft spots of beauty I encounter as I seek inspiration and hope. This poem by Neruda nicely links the sweet stopping of time with hope for a peaceful world.

by Pablo Neruda:

And now we will count to twelve
And we will all keep still

For once on the face of the earth,
Let's not speak in any language;
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.
(Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death)

If we were not so singleminded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive

Now I'll count up to twelve.
and you keep quiet and I will go.

-Pablo Neruda

Beautiful, yes? I'll see you on the streets of San Francisco tomorrow as we attempt to silence the makers of war and sit them down on the shady grounds of peace.
posted by Lisa Thompson on 8:49 AM link | comments []

1.12.2003

Tree Lady

I came upon her standing
hidden against the hill
as the trail winds up from the beach

I like to stand
under certain trees
I stand under trees
she said

People like this give
Californians a bad name

I know this
but I smiled at her
because
I smile now thinking of it
and said I know what you mean

posted by Lisa Thompson on 4:59 PM link | comments []