Picture taken on Election Day morning. Is the sky half full or half empty? Depends on how you see things.
TODAY'S WORD: la paix des choses sauvages
: the peace of wild things
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Have you missed me? Or have you been so absorbed in the election results that you didn't notice a post has not gone out this week, until now–and this by the skin of my teeth.
(If only The Skin of My Teeth could continue writing this post-election essay.)
I've been thinking a lot about why I do not want to talk publicly about the election results. And when I say "thinking a lot," I've been, as writers or sensitive types are known to do, sweating blood from my temples as I struggle to put words to abstract thoughts and so present them to you.
As far as I understand, the reason for my silence (apart from a bad cold that's kept me in bed all week) is this: I don't want to hurt anyone! And if you don't believe me, read my results from the recent Personality Test I just took (twice!).
But what if altruism isn't really at the seat of this silence? What if a giant wet chicken (the French term for coward or wimp) is sitting in that very place? See, while my mom might forgive my difference of opinion, you, dear reader, might very well want to roast me on a stake for not roasting the president elect in this essay! (And then there's another percentage of readers who would roast me for not respecting that same roasted chicken. Wait a minute… Who's on first? (Scroll up, one or two lines, to verify said chicken. Then hurry back here so we can get this post over with.)
(Might I distract you from the completion of this dreaded essay by another game of Sentence Ping Pong? I didn't think so. You are, I fear, expecting a word, a thought, a response (or perhaps a solution?) to the post election results. Come to think of it, I have two. Two words: Wendell Berry for Prez!
On second count, that's four words. I'm only good at math when I apply myself and the same is true regarding my behavior from here on out. What about you? In what area do you want to apply yourself in regards to making this world a better place? Isn't that, after all, the real issue?
I leave you with a poem by Wendell Berry, environmental activist, novelist, poet and farmer. And I have asked Jean-Marc to read it to you in French. Look for the sound file, below, and see you next week, à bientôt!
La Paix des Choses Sauvages
par Wendell Berry Listen to it Download Paix de choses sauvages
Quand le désespoir pour le monde grandit en moi
et je me réveille dans la nuit, au moindre bruit
dans la crainte de ce que ma vie et celle de mes enfants peuvent être,
Je vais et allonge où le drake du bois
repose dans sa beauté sur l'eau, et les grand héron se nourrit.
Je viens dans la paix des choses sauvages
qui ne taxent leurs vies avec préméditation
de chagrin. Je viens dans la présence de l'eau encore.
Et je me sens, dessus de moi, les étoiles d'un jour aveugle
en attente de leur lumière. Pendant un temps
Je me repose dans la grâce du monde, et je suis libre.
English translation, click here
Note: After Jean-Marc recorded the poem, I noticed the translation is not entirely correct. Feel free to edit and share in the comments section! I found the French translation to Wendell Berry's poem at the following site, and I send thanks, to Permaculture Eden.
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Our kids when they were younger. May the ground always be carpeted thickly with flowers. Caring for this planet is a priority! If you haven't yet, watch Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary "Before the Flood."
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You return here for Kristi, who is a kind and gentle soul. She must not be penalized for the opinions of some of her readers.
I am white but my husband and children are not white. I have spent my entire life being nice to everyone regardless of their political views. With this election I have vowed to myself to find out upfront who people voted for. I refuse to spend any more of my kindness and positive energy on anyone who is racist. I owe that to my children. There is never ever a good reason to vote for a racist. And voting for a racist means quite clearly that you are a racist.
Kristi I know you don’t want to loose followers but quite frankly no stand is a stand. I would prefer to know upfront and make my decision based on the facts.
We all need to remember WW2 and how so many stood by and did not take a stand.
It is not my job to be kind to people that hate my children because of their ethnicity. I have formally quit that job as of Nov 8 2016.
Have the guts to say what you think. It’s only fair.
Thanks for posting this beautiful poem, Kristi. It does provide some comfort and perspective during a difficult time.
I do hope you stay in France. I am moving to Marseille next year and would be nice to know you are just down the road. Keep up the good work. I always smile when your newsletter pops up in my in-box.
It seems to me that we the people have little to say in the governing of this country. We can vote and should. We choose a person after which we have no control over his or her actions. This is so because we don’t know this person’s personality, how he or she is likely to react in any given situation, nor do we have the information this person is privy to, nor do we know how advisors might influence this person, nor do we know the true agenda of this person and his/her advisors. At the end we don’t even know if the facade presented by the candidate is true or not. Is Trump really a womanizer. Evidently most of his supporters are or don’t care. Is Hillary a crook and liar? Evidently Most of her supporters are or they don’t care. In either circumstance the truth is unknowable. We vote and hope. Perhaps we have a little more hope than others
Based on my certified MBTI experience, I always thought your preference might be INFJ. This awareness could be the beginning of huge positive reinforcing personal awareness!
Thank you, Kristi, for not marring the beauty of your blog with political commentary. The comments of some of your followers sadden me with their overt hostility that we see elsewhere online, right down to calling your other followers uneducated and stupid. Democracy has spoken loudly and clearly until the next election. I may or may not agree with it, but I respect it. Can’t we all try to respect the legal and moral right of others to their beliefs without calling them stupid or worse? Peace.
Thank you, well said. I am sick of the vitriolic comments on facebook etc. This is a democracy, there are always winners and losers.
I live in Tennessee. The people here that I know are “educated” but even the “uneducated” ones know what is real, and how the world works.
I am a member of Mensa.
I am an artist.
I love nature.
I am not automatically against government actions, such as (in former times) preserving the Smokey Mountains from logging companies, or (in present times) deporting illegals.
I voted for Trump.
Dear Faye – I want to stay in peace as you are … so I’ll borrow your optimism and lack of fear that there isn’t a larger movement in place to overthrow our way of life. I am grateful for the election of Trump.
You guys are going to be SO DEPRESSED when Marine le Pen wins in France!
Stock up on Wayne Dyer books, right now!
Rioting did indeed take place on the streets of Portland for the last several nights.
Also in Seattle where, like Portland, the anarchists come out any time they have an excuse. Breaking all the windows downtown in stores and people’s cars in two great American cities is indeed rioting, at least in my book.
Sheila
Seriously, Robyn?
I mean really.
Sheila
Ha!
Sheila
I’m a Republican and I’ve been following this blog for years. This is ridiculous.
Sheila
Thank you, Dawn. Well said.
Sheila
Well, it looks to me it IS being discussed here, ‘big league’.
Sheila
Right on! I’m from Minnesota and I’m lovin’ the Donald!
Seems like that ship has sailed. Even a home décor blog I read has been taken over by this political stuff. I know that some of these bloggers make all or part of their living through the blog and they are taking the chance of alienating half of their followers by stating their opinions. If they don’t mind taking the hit and believe that putting their opinions out there is worth it, well, I give them props for that. For me, though, I’m happiest on the blogs that are not doing politics at all. If I want politics, there are places to go for that.
For me, I don’t care what actors, singers, rappers, interior decorators, Real Housewives, fake housewives, talk show hosts or bloggers think about the political arena.
Sheila
I’m so happy you read Wendell Berry! He is a true treasure of my
home state, Kentucky. Thank you for sharing a slice of your inner and outer life with us! I have been reading your posts for probably 5 years now, and you writing creates vivid scenes,whether they are of natural beauty or inner musings of the mind.
And I wanted to share this letter, written by a man, Fr. Richard Rohr,whose daily reflections I read and whose wisdom and insight I think is a wonderful contribution to the world:
https://cac.org/rebuilding-bottom-reflection-following-election/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016-11-12%20DM&utm_content=2016-11-12%20DM+CID_dff42887280cd07e7b3f186ab6ade006&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor%20Google%20Analytics&utm_term=my%20message%20and%20a%20simple%20prayer%20here#
When one side states their feelings and you are on the other side and you do not agree with them, it is not always negativity. Some things are truly negative, and a lot are people just being on opposite sides, a place they have a right to be.
Sheila
Good one, Nancy.
Sheila
Yes, it’s America and vote for whoever you want, but voting for a third party candidate who has no chance at all really doesn’t prove anything in the end.
But thanks for exercising your rights as an American.
Sheila
Cute little Leo flies all over the world incessantly putting unnecessary pollutants into the atmosphere while he talks about saving the planet. Are his carbon credits up to date?
This is beautiful and almost feels like a lesson from a writing class; thrifty with words but puts forth the thought completely.
Sheila
Sarah,
I politely disagree that a person whose blog has absolutely nothing to do with politics should feel obligated to make a “stand”.
The blogs that don’t have politics are really quite refreshing this week for me, anyway. There are more than enough places to find opinions. I don’t really believe it will affect our lives how one or another blogger thinks.
Sheila
Dear Kristen, my family and I are also dismayed at the election results. Thank you for delicately broaching an explosive topic. Beth
And yet we have way more to say than a boatload of counties in this world.
Like the way you expressed all that, Robert! Good one.
Sheila
Thanks, Susan.
Sheila
Medicare will not be gone. Ever.
So Robyn…you think that we are “ignorant followers” for using our brains and having the guts to stand proud and vote for someone outside the Washington DC sewage of professional politicians! My health insurance premiums have gone up 85% in the last two years and my 83-year-old husband has lost his primary doctor twice–once when 7 doctors left their practice all at one time. I believe in the right to own a gun, in the right of a baby to be born and the right of this country to make foreigners enter under our rule of law; not by crossing illegally. I live in California and “no” I do not have a beach-front home and I’m not rich by any means; but I am sick and tired of illegal aliens flooding our schools with special demands and draining our welfare programs and taking jobs from “Americans.” Hillary Clinton should be in prison and Hillary and Billy’s phony “Charity” should be dissolved. We now have a chance to thrive and survive with Donald Trump and his new cabinet along with a new Conservative Justice!
A walk in nature is exactly how Hillary spent some of her day today; sounds sane and healthy to me. So what is the problem? Trump supporters have been saying she’s “hiding” and should speak publicly to call off the demonstrations… the poor lady just cannot win!
I find it virtually impossible to have a discussion with a Trump supporter that involves facts- not just innuendo or plain lack of common sense (as in the reasoning above). This has been the most frustrating for me the whole campaign. This blog has actually been quite mild and respectful today.
Want to add that the few events of disrespect being committed in the Boston area seem to be committed by the Trump supporters who now feel emboldened to take actions similarly condoned and laughed off by our crude and crass President-elect. I can agree or not agree about Rep vs Dem ideals, and vote again in 4 years, but the damage a “nasty man” like this can have on the dis-enfranshized is still unknown.
I think we have all lost our minds over here. Your poem was a moment of sanity. I printed out the French and am headed for my dictionary and Bescherelle. I feel bad that your attempt at tact unleashed such a flood!
Thank you Kristi for your brave and heartfelt post. You give me courage to express my true feelings: Deep, overwhelming shame to be an American-America the country that elected Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. I feel it is an affront to the world.
Kristi, thank you so much for allowing us to verbalize our thoughts and feelings regarding the election.
Vous pouvez le dire! Maintenant, nous avons de l’espere!
Try living with policies that you don’t especially agree with without complaining! True pioneers grit and bear it. In 4 years after a Trump presidency, you can comment about how well your life is going. If you pre-judge him…..hmm….It is all too obvious what your opinions are and as I do like our environment, God did a pretty good job making the world! Have a glorious day!
You should let Ryan know then. He has said what he is going to do and the House spends the money.
Well said Sarah K. I worry about my family too.
No, Mary, it’s not our “duty” to discuss this event here. Not unless the owner of this blog wants to, of course. I hope it remains a “safe space.” (Ha! I hate that term but I may begin to relate to it soon…)
Sheila
Thank you for sharing that wonderful poem with us. I, in turn, will share it with the readers of my blog. As for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, I am an INFP and am with you on always doing my best to keep from hurting others by reserving my opinions to myself. And yes, I have received criticism for doing exactly that. It’s sometimes challenging to say anything about politics without making a statement. By choosing to keep our opinions to ourselves, we risk receiving criticism for doing so, for not speaking out. Sigh… I have learned that many people are quick to express their political opinions because we all want to be seen and heard, and for many, that type of expression is the only way to share their fears with others in that covert manner.
Tina, first of all if the KKK and David Duke has any power Obama never would have made it through two terms in office. As for those that might not have healthcare available, all they have to do is show up at the Emergency Room and act like they can’t speak English and they will be given full care absolutely free. As for your group you tag “white uneducated”…I guarantee you that neither Obama or Clinton cared about them so why not reach out to Trump. Remember…those people with money are the ones providing employment not the idiots in college whining about not being given enough as they break windows and steal from stores. Get a life and move forward!
Things I like best here include pictures and stories of your house and garden, when you go to little towns around the area and other travel stuff, things about food, and pictures of your beautiful, cute, funny, tongue-challenged dog.
Sheila
Medicare may have a different name or look and work differently at some point within your life, but there will always be help for elderly people with their medical care.
S.
The bare fact of our 2016 Election is that one half of voting age people did not participate, half of the remaining half (25%)voted for an extremely wealthy man who will govern with the help of sociopaths/psychopaths, leaving the final 25%(myself included) gearing up to continue to advance the best of American values. Living in California, the 6th largest economy in the world, we will continue to expand our inclusive society, our environmental protection, our world class educational system, and our forward looking point of view. We will gradually drag the other 75% of Americans into the 21st century.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a loving 2017…
Bill Miller, Santa Rosa Wine Country – A votre sante…
As with so many other non-political sites I’m on, commentary about this election has spilled over everywhere. Hillary supporters are depressed and angry because they viewed her as the most experienced and qualified for the job; Trump supporters are jubilant but defensive because they don’t like being labeled as misogynists or xenophobes, though their candidate clearly was. In past elections losing sides have always sucked it up because we support the peaceful transition of power. While young people especially see this election as a disaster and are protesting in large numbers, the peaceful transition of power is still happening. Trump’s lack of experience is now on display, and he is in a no-win position. If he “drains the swamp” he will have not have any people who can run all these myriad departments. If he turns toward the Republican establishment people will get more of the same with the possible exception of more restrictive social policies. For both sides, there are many reasons to turn to Wendell Berry’s sweet words right now. Thank you Kristi. PS I’m a fellow vineyard owner (4 acres).
Dear Kristi, Thanks for your perseverance in writing for us in these trying times.
Sharing your thoughts with us is somehow a balm for our flayed souls….
In a more mundane vein, the peace of wild things should translate as La paix DES choses sauvages….
🙂
Very well said!
Well, we are also primarily put on this earth to procreate. Don’t forget that! We are first and foremost mammals! We seem to forget that because we live in an era of the ego, the self. Our duty is to procreate and to praise the living God. And we are commanded to take care of the earth.
merde!!!!! tu es un cretin. j’espere pour le paix en les etats unis et le monde. maintenant,le monde et le peuple sont fou.