A Life-Line:
from ACT III (Graveyard Scene)
EMILY:
In a loud voice to the stage manager.
I can’t. I can’t go on. It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another.
She breaks down sobbing,
The lights dim on the left half of the stage. MRS. WEBB disappears.
I didn’t realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed. Take me back—up the hill—to my grave. But first: Wait! One more look.
Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by Grover’s Corner . . . Mama and Papa. Good-by to clocks ticking . . . and Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths . . . and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you.
She looks toward the stage manager and asks abruptly, through her tears:
Do any humans beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?
STAGE MANAGER:
No.
Pause.
The saints and poets, maybe—they do some.
from Our Town, Act III : Death and Eternity
by Thornton Wilder
Practice:
~ Be a poet today. Look and notice. Really look at someone until it becomes beholding.
~ Be a saint today. Do one thing where you consciously realize life while you’re living it.
thanks for this. my friend bg always taught it and thought it brilliant.
It’s always been one of my favorites.
I heard a song, the Isle of Poets & Saints, and I looked it up, and it led me to this site, and I’m very happy.
I found the answer I was looking for.
Thank you!
Mark, it’s always good to have another Miller join the caravan. Glad you found your way here. I haven’t been posting much as of late as I am slugging away (like a Northwest Slug not like Hank Aaron) on a book. I don’t know that song so I will look it up. Blessings, Dan
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for your reply. I hope that you see yourself morph from “Northwest Slug” into “Slugger Hank Aaron” and knock it out of the park with your book.
Your post inspired me to continue “slogging” through a personal piece I am working on.
Your practice prompt to “Really look at someone…” gave me a refreshed purpose to continue.
Thanks. And best wishes to you on your endeavor.