tree reflection
Atomic Citrocity
I am much too alone in this world, yet not alone
enough
to truly consecrate the hour.
I am much too small in this world, yet not small
enough
to be to you just object and thing,
dark and smart.
Rainer Maria Rilke
I’ve heard it said that every photograph is a self-portrait. If there is any truth in that—and I think there must be—then it is also true that every photograph that causes the viewer to pause and observe for a long time is also a portrait of the viewer.
I don’t know the woman who saw this border of standing water along the curbing, who interrupted her walk long enough to appreciate it and photograph it. I don’t know what she felt any more than I know what Rilke meant by not being alone enough to consecrate the hour. I don’t know her—but I think she’s taken my portrait, and a portrait of herself, and maybe one of Rilke as well. And though she may not have consecrated the hour, she consecrated a moment, and surely that counts. Surely that matters.
I want my conscience to be
true before you;
want to describe myself like a picture I observed
for a long time…
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, greg fallis and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
