archives

The current issue of NCR features an article titled 'Pilgrim Soul' by Margot Patterson. She describes the permeable membrane between the spirituality of poetry and the prosaic nature of writing a memoir. I find reading such offerings to be wonderful thirst quenchers for the soul. I discovered the writings of Annie Dillard to be just this sort of offering. Patterson calls this sort of writing more than reportorial presentation of facts. It becomes a reflection upon hopes and expectations. It places us in an intimate experiential commonality. I recently read a copy of ' For The Time Being ' by Dillard. The engaging imagery inspires me to re-read passages in random fashion until I discover that there is no offering that I have not read several times already. This happened to me in her reflections on her profession in ' The Writng Life '. This beguiling encounter was surprising and a little unnerving. Were I a 17th Century Puritan Prelate, she would certainly risk being held to account for her bewitching ways.