Remembrance

By Amy Kaplan

A visitor from New Jersey once said to me, nodding: “Whatever was done to the Native Americans will be done to us. It’s only a matter of time.”

I said, Horror is a way to keep yourself company. I can’t do that.

“Learning whether the Supreme Court is willing to abrogate its constitutional role entirely will be a harrowing experience.”

He nodded and answered, “Buddha turned the attack on his soul into flowers. He kept sitting under the Bodhi Tree.” I grimace. Then, I lit incense and hoped to breathe better.

I love you, I said. He nodded grief-stricken, then said “Me too.”

A visitor from New Jersey once said to me: “Whatever was done to the Native Americans will be done to us. It’s only a matter of time. In our neighborhood, they are stealing our water to use for fracking and we have no recourse.”

I asked everyone to remember where their ancestors lived 10,000 years ago or 20,000 when this lava was hot and flowing. The lava did seem frozen in time but, nothing stays frozen forever, does it? Does it?

The woman, a visitor, whispered to me, “I am glad you are talking about these things.”

Then she, looked carefully to her left and right, gave me a smile, turned and walked away. I could see the sadness sitting on her shoulders as she walked carefully across the ever-dissolving lava.