Exercises for the Recovery of Childhood

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After a heavy rainstorm, proceed to the seashore. If there’s no seashore near, head for the storm culvert. If there’s no culvert, find the closest gutter and drain at the edge of the street. You will find water rushing in at high volume. The torrent is carrying pinecones, carrying trash, carrying tiny flotillas of evergreen needles or masses of twigs, carrying driftwood. At the seashore, you’ll find a new streambed eroding the sand. Crouch beside it and watch the water flow past. Crouch beside it and imagine that you are quite small. You may wish to imagine that this fresh stream is the size of a mighty river. And you, you must be the idle god of this river, presiding over the close of an evening’s abundance. You may wish to remain where you are until dusk has settled—until it is entirely dark.