Friday, November 2, 2007

ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

I don't think we spend enough time sitting. Not sitting at work or on the couch or at the bar or at the table or in front of the computer or tv. Just sitting. Thinking, remembering, forgetting, listening, letting the sun warm your face, eyes closed. The autumn sun is a wily character. It heats the day, and your jeans if you sit still long enough, but only for a few chosen hours in the afternoon/early evening. The wind rustles the leaves around the corner and against the house. Kids scream and laugh somewhere down the street. Traffic, always rushing, noisy intrusions, continues like a motorized river on the other side of the house. But in the back, there's nothing. Sunlight and breezes, leaves and whispers. It's easy to be young again. 7, 12, 17...young and in love, restless, free. Peaceful without realizing it. That's what the sun does...rejuvenates. Gives life. The remnants of all your baggage blow about on the ground, but it's better not to track that back inside with you. You don't need them. Sometimes you have to remember that though. Or forget it. Or forget to remember. Or just sit.

9 comments:

TK said...

You know, it's funny - a friend and I were just talking about this the other day - about people's inherent inability to sit back and do nothing... and the value of doing that. Nicely written little piece.

Ha Ha Sound said...

I couldn't agree with you more. It's important sometimes to just do nothing and think. This is the beauty of having a pet, I think. You join them where they're sleeping, and just lie with them do nothing. And they always love it.

onthevirg said...

That was kind of poetic man.

JDizzle said...

I'm very good at doing nothing. It can be such an art form. Thank you for bring light to this overlooked subject.

Todd said...

Very nice.

I expect to see this up in a subway sometime soon. It's better then most of the poems they plaster up...

MsFreshBananaPuddin said...

I feel like I'm reading a Tim O'Brien story...

Irish and Jew said...

Beautiful. I need some sitting.

~Irish

Irish and Jew said...

Beautiful. I need to sit.

~Irish

123Valerie said...

Galveston can't be THAT fun, J. Hurry back. I'm bored.