To Be | Teen Ink

To Be

October 30, 2010
By J.Octavian.R SILVER, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
J.Octavian.R SILVER, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
5 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis


I stooped down over the soft grass, which spread out thickly over the park expanse, bright in the midday sun. Brushing my fingers through the swaying, twisting weeds, I let out a sigh. Grass felt so cool and fresh when one truly took notice of it.

Overhead the sun blazed brightly from a lucidly-clear, blue sky. I looked up, and for once I noticed how vast a distance the sky truly extended. In sheeted waves it seemed to envelop everything in its warm embrace. Tall, monstrous, steel towers tore and thrashed at it off in the far reaches of my vision, but even they failed to reach it. All of man’s accomplishments seemed like nothing when compared to the majesty of natural life.

Straightening, I inhaled deeply. In that breath I noted every perceptible flavor which accompanied the air, sampled each intricate blend of taste and smell as it entered my lungs. Freshness from the trees all about, exhaust from the city, coolness from the water, I could taste them all. Even those smells and sounds, which had before seemed imperceptible, at that point screamed aloud of their existence.

I stood, and brushing dust from my knees, I took another step. Softly, the earth indented under my weight. And I longed to remove my shoes, and to race across the sprawling lawn like a child.

Almost irrepressible, the urge to feel the solid, immovable earth beat beneath me drove me into a jog. Soon the jog changed to a run, the run to a sprint.

And I gave into all of the emotions which overran my soul. I let the joy bubble forth in laughter, felt the heartache run out in tears, let the worry and tension shake off of me with every stride. As it fell from me, I pushed myself to run harder, to free myself entirely of the dreadful anxiety.

Passing a tall oak, my eyes picked out a gray squirrel among its branches. Never before then would I have even noticed the small animal, but at that moment my senses marveled at any stimulation or reflection no matter how minute. I stopped running, and I stood beneath the tree panting. Then glancing up at the frail creature, I said, “Life, it’s so beautiful…”

I must have looked like a madman, standing there in a half tucked in dress shirt and a tie which had turned around backwards. Grass stains speckled my white dress pants, and scuff marks marred my shoes. And I did not care. All the people about me, those people who just stood and gawked and babbled, they meant nothing. In all creation, only two things mattered: I lived, and I knew I lived. Everything else merely exemplified and exalted those facts.

Running once more, I passed by an old man playing chess. And for once I appreciated that simple scene. I saw one of a past generation taking pleasure in something which was old, meaningful, intelligent, and cherished. Realization of the vitality and life which even the old possess only served to make me treasure my own life more, for I realized that I had nothing to fear from time. Time could only bring me death, and death had already approached me once. So I knew that when death came at any future date, I would count myself lucky for having lived that long.

Passing a young mother, who stood with her child in her arms, I saw new life. And I saw the vitality of new life, the tender, innocent beauty of a baby, which by its sheer simplicity and innocence carries its own vitality.

Then I came out of the park, and I stepped onto a hard sidewalk. I looked at the towering structures about me. Their angular, perfunctory corners carried a certain amount of orderly beauty. Mankind’s creations had life too. They held beauty and intricacy; they could not rival the majesty of God’s creations, just as a dog’s life cannot rival a man’s. But nonetheless, like a dog compared to a man, mankind’s creations still held a beauty separate from that of God’s creations.

To reassure myself of reality, I drew forth and read the clean bill of health issued to me that day by my physician. After the accident they had told me that, if by some miracle I lived, I would never walk again. But I walked, and I ran, and I LIVED!

Reaching deeper into my pocket, I drew forth the small velvet casket which I hoped enclosed the symbol of my future. And I headed down the road towards Ellen’s house. In my realization of temporality, I recognized what a blessing God had bestowed on me with life; and I never wished to waste any of it again.


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This article has 4 comments.


on Nov. 12 2010 at 4:29 pm
J.Octavian.R SILVER, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
5 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis

Well, the story is showing the beauty of life. So "To Be" really does capture that idea as drawn from the question "To be or not to be"

on Nov. 12 2010 at 11:31 am
36Black52White SILVER, Park City, Utah
8 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Practice like you are the worst, perform like you are the best."

the only problem I see here is that the title doesn't fit the story well. May I suggest Stroll in the Park or To Walk? I dunno, I've never been good at titles. Good story!

on Nov. 8 2010 at 10:54 am
J.Octavian.R SILVER, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
5 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis

17,wrote it when I was 16. It is aimed at anywhere from teens to adults.

on Nov. 7 2010 at 10:17 pm
red-head BRONZE, Belmont, New York
1 article 0 photos 25 comments

Oh my god!    

how old are you?(not that it matters.) who are you looking to read this? (age group) It is wonderful I wasn't sure when I started reading it, I'm not a huge discripsion fan so I was hesitant but somewere your hook caught me. umm I'm not the best comment person I don't do negitive well so you might be disapionted(sorry)!

 I don't like the title you could if your interested in changing it. To somthing that gives an insite to the charecter's ilness (not that my say so should make a difference on your writing) Thank you (sorry about the spelling on my writing)