Adrienne Rich: “A kind of alchemy”
Jan 24th, 2008 by Jill
“The possibilities that exist between two people, or among a group of people are a kind of alchemy. They are the most interesting thing in life…It isn’t that to have an honorable relationship with you, I have to understand everything, or tell you everything at once, or that I can know, beforehand, everything I need to tell you.
It means that most of the time I am eager, longing for the possibility of telling you. That these possibilities may seem frightening, but not destructive, to me. That I feel strong enough to hear your tentative and groping words. That we both know we are trying, all the time, to extend the possibilities of truth between us.
The possibility of life between us.”
– Adrienne Rich, “Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying”, On Lies, Secrets, and Silence
Wow, this made me stop and really think about things. I had to read it a couple of times to process all of it. And I like it. Thank you for sharing that.