Still Life

The process of living is tinged with uncertainty, an uncertainty made more palpable in daily events, encounters, and tragedies. Its basis is the acceptance of universal frailties, the loss of all things. A house is built; it corrodes in rain and sun, is beaten by seasonal changes. Organic growth rises in its crevices. Every day it dies a little more. Till walls cave in, brick turns to dust, and fresh life replaces completely, till even the plants die and disappear into earth and soil leaving but one reminder: Youth is but a minor itch, it passes; the progression of ageing is unforgiving as ever. Still, evolutionary loss is comforted by time’s elongated length. People feast before extinction, find God in belief; they migrate in hope. Tradition and custom intervene. Mosque, temple, and church are clothed in conforming uniforms. Games are invented to enlarge purpose, create conflicts, elongate life. Ageing, decline and demise are accorded personal time frames, accelerated for some, stretched and seemingly limitless for others. We live, we learn to love because we are dying. The archeology of cities, the rise and decay of architecture, the dimming focus of design and...

more palpable in daily events, encounters, and tragedies. Its basis is

the acceptance of universal frailties, the loss of all things. A house is

built; it corrodes in rain and sun, is beaten by seasonal changes.

Organic growth rises in its crevices. Every day it dies a little more.

Till walls cave in, brick turns to dust, and fresh life replaces

completely, till even the plants die and disappear into earth and soil

leaving but one reminder: Youth is but a minor itch, it passes; the

progression of ageing is unforgiving as ever. Still, evolutionary loss is

comforted by time’s elongated length. People feast before extinction,

find God in belief; they migrate in hope. Tradition and custom

intervene. Mosque, temple, and church are clothed in conforming

uniforms. Games are invented to enlarge purpose, create conflicts,

elongate life. Ageing, decline and demise are accorded personal time

frames, accelerated for some, stretched and seemingly limitless for

others. We live, we learn to love because we are dying. The