A couple of days ago I saw a horsefly struggling in a spiderweb in the garage window. One wing was caught. I stole him from the web and gently pulled the web from his wing. To me there is no scale to suffering. On hot summer days I find myself saving any bug that falls into the pool. I stop for turtles and help them across the road. Thinking about scale I have always realized that to an ant struggling in the deep water of the swimming pool his life is just as important to him as my life is to me. How sad to die while people are splashing about and laughing.
As a middle school teacher I am also aware that while the upsets of twelve and thirteen year olds may seem trivial they are not. They are HUGE to them and completely relative to their experiences in the time that they have spent on this earth. I know that pain, struggle and the love of life know no scale.
Sadly, my meddling didn't help the horsefly or the spider
(it's wing was damaged from the web)
So here it is a painting of a horsefly that wanted to live. He is worthy of a portrait just as Kings, Queens and Presidents are.
Thank you tiny red for a thought provoking weekword. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's interpretations.
this is a really touching interpretation, aris. it reminded me about a post suzanne did this week about her nest of birds:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.anopensketchbook.com/2009/06/life-is-so-fragile.html
Thanks Aimee. I just visited Suzannes post, so sad... so happy to be introduuced to her wonderful blog though.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a thoughtful post - it made me reflect quite a bit. Possibly because I vacuumed up a spider the other day - not on purpose - but I simply felt too much in a hurry to open up the vacuum cleaner and rescue it. But yes, there is no scale to unhappiness and suffering. And indeed your painting has now immortalized that specific, unique horsefly ...
ReplyDeleteWow Aris---
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful and I am all the richer for having visited and read it. I have to say that this is one of the powers we have as visual artists. We are able to capture the moments...the horseflys...that would otherwise be missed.
A beautiful tribute to a life lived.
it's beautiful, aris!
ReplyDeletei actually thought it was a photograph until i read the post... lovely!!!
Just love your interpretation Aris, so nice written and drawn.
ReplyDeleteWOW...I like your words...and the way you see that everyone has a right to live...:)))))))
ReplyDeleteWoW! your interpretation is so beautiful, really touchy :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful drawing and a very touching text.
ReplyDeletebeautiful drawing and very beautiful thoughts!
ReplyDeletei wish that more people could think and live the way that you do.
Thanks guys! I'm loving weekword so fun to see what everyone's take is.
ReplyDeleteSo fragile and beautiful ... the drawing and the words with it.
ReplyDeleteloved reading this post. inspiring words. and the painting is beautiful. thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best post I have read all week- I've read about a billion- The portrait of Mr. Fly is gorgeous and I so agree- I am very busy this time of year saving lives...some, saddly, just want to commit suicide anyway. I think that I have come to terms with that. LOVE this post- love your blog- what a great find!
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