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ZAUM Sonoma State University's Literary Magazine | |
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View previous blogs May 12, 2010 | May 11, 2010 | April 23, 2010 | April 1, 2010 | March 29, 2010 | March 11, 2010 | March 3, 2010 | February 22, 2010 May 18, 2010 "I find that there is plenty of room in the world for everybody – great interspatial depths, great ego universes, great islands of repair, for whoever attains to individuality. On the surface, where the historical battles rage, where everything is interpreted in terms of money and power, there may be crowding, but life only begins when one drops from the surface, when on gives up the struggle, sinks and disappears from sight." – Henry Miller, from *The Wisdom of the Heart* In these words of Henry Miller, I find the articulation of the revelation that is my strength on the page, the embrace of my peculiar drawl. I once thought that writing was something I could not do, that all great things had been said; that I was not great and therefore I had nothing to say. I weighed my work against the best and found it lacking, and threw it away. Yet I still wrote, in secret, in the dark. I called it "scribbling" or self-indulgence, but the words still came. I went deep into the "ego universe", alone with my struggle, to merge with story, The Universe of impotential meaning. The narratives of the World spoke of dust, so I gave up my writing and died, back to the earth. Something took root, or the root never died. With every breath came a drawing in of fresh soil, roots seeking nutrients. I still smell the breeze, wet with the first rain. Crisp, elemental air. I spread my leaves and shake in it. I write. - Jeremy Jennings Questions for the author? Want to comment on the blog? Email us at nicolais@sonoma.edu and we'll post your questions and comments. | |
