The Art of Seeing

The Art of Seeing Sunday 27th April 2008 (1.30pm)

Yesterday a fellow scholar, an Irishman from Dublin took up the desk next to mine. He had worked with the Irish Tinker community or communities of Gypsy or Travellers. And today another scholar, a friend named John Fielder, a man I refer to as John Redleif, a being wise to the world of leaves of books and trees showed me a new cafe, a true bohemian establishment, and next door a secondhand bookstore. And upon scanning its shelves, with the word 'tinker' still fresh in my mind, I saw reference to it and was quickly drawn to its title. It was the work of Annie Dillard, "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," and it has proven to be a Godsend (good send). On pages 41-42, Dillard states with immense purpose and clarity, "The secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. Hone and spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the merest puff" (1975: 41-42). And, then, I look outward from my window at the green-beings held out on their branches. The leaves of the plane tree, solar sails I think I have referred to them, once, or several times before. I know they are an extension of my sense of self. My reflection and theirs through my window embodies the one, a shared liminal space and connection between us. And the sun, sometimes yellow in the green of their leaves warms my heart and encourages me and reminds me to breathe.