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My Backyard Fort . . .
Sunday, February 18, 2007 at 10:03PM
...was a thing of beauty, though constructed of ordinary wood. I loved its simplicity; there was nothing about its simple lines that drew attention to itself, or which distracted me from the thoughts I hoarded there, like a secret cache of jewels, while escaping my family's madness.
Perhaps beautiful only to me, my fort and I weathered the seasons, sharing an intimacy on which I would come to depend during the wilderness years of my truncated childhood. During the summer months, it became my best ally; when inclement weather kept me from it, I often gazed at it through my bedroom window, silently yearning to return to my suburban writing retreat.
Within the solitude and safety of its womb, I wrote my first stories, wept my frustrations, and breathed much more freely than ever I could within the confining walls of my family's modern home.
Loneliness, of the sort which can't easily be dispelled by the mere presence of another, drove me to the sanctuary of my fort. Heartbreak compelled me to seek it as a refuge to which I could return time and again, without reproach, or fear of over staying my welcome. The forces of evil hounding my every step propelled me high up into the safety of its walls, and a bit of me died every time I left its warm planks, never knowing how long until our next tryst.
Language has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone.
(Paul Johannes Tillich)
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Reader Comments (5)
I have to agree, loneliness is a burden but solitude is more a peaceful retreat from madness, a retreat like the fort in the backyard of your childhood home.
I have enjoyed my solitude the last few days.
Austin
PS. Word doodles, that's a new one on me. I like it!!! I think that's cool how you took simplicity and made a girl think. I like the one about the purse and being female. Very cool.
there are some littles inside going wow we wish we had a fort!!! i think it is mostly the little boys! they could play fort apache in there!!
keepers
I think you should get John Michael to build you one. It's never too late!
If he builds them one I want one too.
Aussie
Ok, everyone who wants a fort, sign up here! (Sure hope John Michael knows he's been volunteered!)