Monday 13 January 2014

The Life that could have been

I have been reflecting on my parents and my mortality and have come to the conclusion that I need to prepare myself in any way I can for the unavoidable in life - death or dieing. I will keep you posted on how I make out.
I have looked at my father's life and created some mono-prints and woodcuts. Let me know what you think. When I read it to my partner she went, "Oh, it is great, but so dark". So, here it goes.



The Life that could have been
Hungary in the late 1920’s, twins are born. 
The father, a loyal country man, the mother not well,
something to do with the heart and the lung.
There was one more brother, however, he died.
Also his mother and his twin brother died - He was alone with his father. 

His father took another wife, and the twin became one of many -twelve half-brothers and sisters.
The Second World War broke out,
 the twin was too young to take part in the fighting,
 he had his own war to fight;
his father defended their home country.
 Defeated ,they were deported from Hungary to Germany.
The twin was a young man by now, what is in his future?


What kind of life can he expect, having experienced the amount of lose he had felt?
Striving  toward security;
he needed possessions  -
identified himself through his possessions.
He was a sensitive young man,
but was there place in his life for this sensitivity.
Hurt by life,
abandoned by his mother,
 not protected by his father –
while feeling alone within the crowed of his half-brothers and half-sisters.
What could have been?
 A twin celebrating his sensitivity, trusting in life and the goodness of people.
Creating meaningful relationships with his children, friends, and half-sisters and brothers.
 Understanding that possessions are not what a person is remembered by.
Taking life by its handkerchief and swirling it flamboyantly around,
 but how could he?


 With his heart filled with sadness and not understanding.
Now, he is living his life out with a diagnosis of Dementia,
 remembering his early years with tears in his eyes.
How hard life can be. 

No comments:

Archan Knotz creates : February

Archan Knotz creates : February :  Every year it happens, February arrives and I have this strong urge ...