in landscape painting, there was an era of the 1800s where painters would go to nature to try to capture "the sublime." That's how I felt in reading your words, that I was witnessing the sublime.
i cry every day and I never once thought of categorizing why or seeing what the thread tying my tears together is. your writing goes above and beyond in capturing an essential human elemental force.
thank you for being here. it sounds as though your soul is at good, rigorous work.
if you haven't come in to contact with it already, you might like edmund burke's writing on the sublime. he reminds me of Rilke... remember: "let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. just keep going. "
That is true, and beautifully framed, Patris. I’ve been present at both and didn’t weep on the day, as I sought to comfort others. Anything at all that needed doing. Avoiding tears. A denial of the reality of death on my part? Not a big fan of crying. This post sets you thinking though. Thanks.
Tears, pearls, love and death all woven together in a lyrical and seemingly effortless way. Your letters always stand out from the rest like a Pearl of Great Price. Thank you x
oh thank you, Ann- for inhabiting the words, for letting them inhabit you, and for telling me about it too. reading these comments is truly the magic of my month.
i haven't heard this before, but it does feel true in the sense that all of our happiness essentially arrives from our ruptures. like the pearl that comes from an irritant; or a tear from an constant accumulation of touch.
Tears well. Blurry-eyed I read this for the 2nd and 3rd time. You have pulled on a long emotional thread and loosened the knots tangled by inattention and denial. Your choice of other voices to
compliment you own - pitch perfect to my ears. Delighted to see the L. Erdrich passage among them.
That said, your words on their own would be enough. Thank you for this beautiful read.
This is so beautiful, I love how you gather all these different works of art and poetry around the idea of tears, and the idea of being an "anthropologist of tears" is so beautiful, as is your list in the beginning. I also love the way you end—your writing is so dreamy and poetic and lovely.
thank you for leaving your words here- i have been thinking so much lately about being an anthropologist- or simply approaching everything with the enthusiasm and curiosity of the scholar. i'm happy that resonated with you <3
Simply stunning. Thank you.
Have you read There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak? The story begins with a single raindrop.
💙🌎
i have not, no-- but i certainly will. Elif Shafak is pure and true. thank you for the gift-- i am going to order it now. x
in landscape painting, there was an era of the 1800s where painters would go to nature to try to capture "the sublime." That's how I felt in reading your words, that I was witnessing the sublime.
i cry every day and I never once thought of categorizing why or seeing what the thread tying my tears together is. your writing goes above and beyond in capturing an essential human elemental force.
thank you for being here. it sounds as though your soul is at good, rigorous work.
if you haven't come in to contact with it already, you might like edmund burke's writing on the sublime. he reminds me of Rilke... remember: "let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. just keep going. "
i’ll look it up!
We weep as we give birth. We weep as we hold the dying.
it is almost impossible to consider it anything less than some of our most important work.
That is true, and beautifully framed, Patris. I’ve been present at both and didn’t weep on the day, as I sought to comfort others. Anything at all that needed doing. Avoiding tears. A denial of the reality of death on my part? Not a big fan of crying. This post sets you thinking though. Thanks.
thank you for your words, Kevin <3 i hope you create a pearl when the time comes that you need to.
It happened- all the effort before spilling over. I never cried until then, when I finally was allowed to.
That resonates deeply with this patron.
Tears, pearls, love and death all woven together in a lyrical and seemingly effortless way. Your letters always stand out from the rest like a Pearl of Great Price. Thank you x
oh thank you, Ann- for inhabiting the words, for letting them inhabit you, and for telling me about it too. reading these comments is truly the magic of my month.
love to you, truly.
oh love! it’s the best fuel for everything that wants to be made. may we use it lavishly xx
So much to love here, I can't even begin to tell you. Thank you!
thank you for being here: for your time and for your attention. <3
Mmmmm... So good. I heard recently that if you put your tears back into your body by tasting them it's healing you on a deeper soul level…
i haven't heard this before, but it does feel true in the sense that all of our happiness essentially arrives from our ruptures. like the pearl that comes from an irritant; or a tear from an constant accumulation of touch.
thank you for your words <3
💜
Tears well. Blurry-eyed I read this for the 2nd and 3rd time. You have pulled on a long emotional thread and loosened the knots tangled by inattention and denial. Your choice of other voices to
compliment you own - pitch perfect to my ears. Delighted to see the L. Erdrich passage among them.
That said, your words on their own would be enough. Thank you for this beautiful read.
no such thing as inattention or denial-- only looking up to see what has been waiting for you patiently.
but: thank you for your words; for being here, for your attention, for looking up.
i hope it made you something of a pearl.
love to you <3
Always a treat when I see you have dropped a post :) beautiful read as usual.
thank you truly. i hope you find some magic today.
Always. Thanks for your great body of work to get me through some rainy bus rides.
Man Ray’s photo of tears falling a woman’s cheek. Classic.
oh i just searched this up-- it's divine, and just what i had been looking for. such a beautiful confusion of diamonds and tears.
This is truly so interesting and beautiful. Love how you've dissected the poeticism and meaning behind a tear through your pretty words <3
oh thank you for pausing to tell me this. truly. <3
This is so beautiful, I love how you gather all these different works of art and poetry around the idea of tears, and the idea of being an "anthropologist of tears" is so beautiful, as is your list in the beginning. I also love the way you end—your writing is so dreamy and poetic and lovely.
thank you for leaving your words here- i have been thinking so much lately about being an anthropologist- or simply approaching everything with the enthusiasm and curiosity of the scholar. i'm happy that resonated with you <3
I've asked- when will these tears end? and I heard. I am an ocean.
drawn to and by the Moon <3
beautiful. hehe. Love you friend!
Beautiful as always. Going through your substack oeuvre is like walking through an art gallery of fascination and poeticism.
i'm so happy that you could find here some pearls <3
What a gift
and your attention, also.
thank you for being here. <3
"Of my life, nothing remains in my eye
except these sad ghosts.
Still the trees that weep on the city's ground
are lovers who sing my songs"
from Season of Tears,
by Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said Esber)
Adonis is sublime: 'i am the end of nigh/ i love so that I begin/'
thank you for these pearls. <3
"it is such a secret place, the land of tears." Like these letters!
thank you, little voice. <3
i'll see you in the secret places.