Historical Moments
History is being made all the time - even when it isn't. I am reminded of my near-sitedness in recent games in which my Queen was taken at no loss to my apponant. Sometimes it is the little things that get to you. Here is an insite into historical moments by Russell Edson. Thank you Stuie Cimabue.
A man is bringing a cup of coffee to his face,
tilting it to his mouth. It's historical, he thinks.
He scratches his head: another historical event. He
really ought to rest, he's making an awful lot of
history this morning.
Oh my, now he's buttering toast, another piece
of history is being made.
He wonders why it should have fallen on him to
be so historical. Others probably just don't have it,
he thinks, it is, after all, a talent.
He thinks one of his shoelaces needs tying. Oh
well, another important historical event is about to
take place. He just can't help it. Perhaps he's taking
up too large an area of history? But he has to live,
hasn't he? Toast needs buttering and he can't go
around with one of his shoelaces needing to be tied,
can he?
Certainly it's true, when the 20th century gets
written in full it will be mainly about him. That's
the way the cookie crumbles--ah, there's a phrase
that'll be quoted for centuries to come.
Self-conscious? A little; how can one help it
with all those yet-to-be-born eyes of the future
watching him?
Uh oh, he feels another historical event coming. . .
Ah, there it is, a cup of coffee approaching his
face at the end of his arm. If only they could catch
it on film, how much it would mean to the future.
Oops, spilled it all over his lap. One of those
historical accidents that will influence the next
thousand years; unpredictable, and really rather
uncomfortable . . . But history is never easy,
he thinks. . .
-Russell Edson