Words & Images
Sightings
By Cynthia Staples | 1/16/16
Through a second story window I see branches, branches of the oak arching over my house and branches of trees across the street. Yesterday those trees and the flowers below were encased in ice. Today temperatures are warmer. The ice slowly melts. Droplets have formed. The trees are now draped in diamonds. A breathtaking sight in the early morning light as I sit at the kitchen table.
Most droplets are clear but others shine red, blue and even gold, reflecting the colors of the surrounding urban landscape. They tremble in a gentle wind before falling to earth. A winter wonderland of sorts. People walk below, some looking straight ahead, while others look down into their phones. I am tempted to open the window and shout, "Hey, people, pause! Look up or at least around!"
What glorious scenes would they view by raising their heads or peering for just a moment at the shadows cast by trees in the growing light? How might they describe the glistening of the wet branches overhead? Perhaps I should lean out the window and simply ask, "What did you see in the world today?"
It's the question my mother asked me throughout her life. "Nothing," was not an acceptable answer. Over the years, I would share with her what I had seen in nature as well as what I had seen of human nature. I would share with her those things I found beautiful and she encouraged me to share with her those things I found disturbing. The good, the bad, the beautiful ... all could be shared because they were my experiences, the scenes from my day.
It's the question I habitually ask several very young friends, who love books and who love to write, and who will literally and figuratively walk in the world with their eyes closed, lost in imaginary worlds. One of them recently said, "Why do you keep asking that question about what I see? What does that have to do with my story?"
As writer and photographer, I love creating imaginary worlds, too, but storytelling, regardless of the medium, can be made so much stronger by appreciating the actual world around us. While I currently have no plans to write a story set in an icy world, I will have my memories of what I saw this day to draw upon as I hope my young friends will have their memories to enrich whatever it is they choose to do.
What did you see in the world today?
©2016 Cynthia Staples. All rights reserved.
Cynthia Staples is a highly creative writer and photographer living in the Boston area. Her words and images capture moments and memories and weave together inspiring stories for her readers. More »A step-by-step tutorial for a creative spring collage featuring a pearl bird nest, musical note leaves, and lace
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