The Accuracy of the Imagination

Monday, February 9, 2009

The first essay my student, K., ever wrote for me was about this abandoned greenhouse, which K. had found, he said, in a park, and photographed at sunset, just before autumn became winter and K. himself was forced inside. It was this essay that announced K.'s huge, if voluble talent and made me want to discover if his words had been fanciful or accurate, fiction or truth.

Yesterday, all these months later, I set out with my camera, and there this broke-down creature was, shattered and exquisite as K. had promised, cordoned off but accessible to the eyes and, therefore, to the imagination, and suggesting torrents, seasons, sprung seeds, escape. Accuracy, in this case, could only be pinned to fancy. Both things necessary to broker the truth.

4 comments:

Sherry said...

Those four elements: fancy,accuracy, fiction, truth - are what make stories such an incredible gift.

What a beautiful way to see it played out. Thank you for not only sharing your find, but for the wonder and the looking that found it.

Beth Kephart said...

Sherry and PJ, thank you.

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