i12bent: Ursula K. Le Guin - the best living author of s-f and fantasy literature: b. Oct. 21, 1929… “A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin —— The Elders at the Falls by Ursula K. Le Guin In 1958 a dam was completed below the great falls of the Columbia River at Celilo, where for thousands of years there had been a town, and, when the salmon came up the river to spawn, a great fishery and meeting place for peoples from all over the region. I heard this story. They stood all day with their backs turned. They stood there just above the river all the long day with their backs turned to what was happening. Like the chorus in ancient tragedies, not the heroes but the old people who do not see the battle, the sacrifice, the murder, they stood and listened to the messenger, the voice that tells the story. The voice they listened to that had spoken all their lives and all the lives before them telling its story, their story, that great voice Celilo grew smaller, became less, became quieter, all day, until at twilight it was silent. (Photo: Benjamin Reed, 2009) View high resolution

i12bent:

Ursula K. Le Guin - the best living author of s-f and fantasy literature: b. Oct. 21, 1929…

“A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin

——

The Elders at the Falls by Ursula K. Le Guin

In 1958 a dam was completed below the great falls of the Columbia River at Celilo, where for thousands of years there had been a town, and, when the salmon came up the river to spawn, a great fishery and meeting place for peoples from all over the region.

I heard this story.
They stood all day with their backs turned.
They stood there just above the river
all the long day with their backs turned
to what was happening.
Like the chorus in ancient tragedies,
not the heroes but the old people
who do not see the battle,
the sacrifice, the murder,
they stood and listened to the messenger,
the voice that tells the story.
The voice they listened to
that had spoken all their lives
and all the lives before them
telling its story, their story, that great voice
Celilo
grew smaller, became less,
became quieter,
all day, until
at twilight
it was silent.

(Photo: Benjamin Reed, 2009)

(Reblogged from i12bent)

Notes

  1. awesomeocelot reblogged this from arsvitaest
  2. themartiankid reblogged this from arsvitaest
  3. cameliaelias reblogged this from i12bent
  4. into-velvet reblogged this from xbarbrastreisandx
  5. wearmysenses reblogged this from i12bent
  6. theamericanscholar reblogged this from i12bent
  7. jbe200 reblogged this from arsvitaest
  8. dabacus reblogged this from journalofanobody
  9. jesuisunechatte reblogged this from journalofanobody
  10. journalofanobody reblogged this from buffleheadcabin
  11. buffleheadcabin reblogged this from lumpy-pudding
  12. theredshoes reblogged this from lumpy-pudding
  13. pinkseachele reblogged this from i12bent
  14. xbarbrastreisandx reblogged this from i12bent
  15. arsvitaest reblogged this from lumpy-pudding
  16. i12bent reblogged this from lumpy-pudding and added:
    Ursula K. Le Guin - the best living author of s-f and fantasy literature: b. Oct. 21, 1929… “A writer is a person who...
  17. lumpy-pudding posted this