Word painting
The old people sat on the bench, still as statues. Never mind, there was always the crowd to watch. To and fro, in front of the flower-beds and the band rotunda, the couples and groups paraded, stopped to talk, to greet to buy a handful of flowers from the old beggar who had his tray fixed to the railings. Little children ran among them, swooping and laughing; little boys with big white silk bows under their chins, little girls, little French dolls, dressed up in velvet and lace...
--"Miss Brill," Katherine Mansfield
I really like the imagery in this story. I know I say this all the time, but I love it when the author paints the picture with words. There's actually an art in "word painting." I learned about it in The Art of Travel, a book I read last fall for Travel Literature with Dr. Wendland. You just pick somewhere to sit and write what you see. You look for details. You literally try to paint a picture with your words.
I actually enjoy people watching too--not to the extent that Miss Brill does, but I do see the value in it. I always find myself people watching in public places. It's just fun to see what's going on in other people's lives--it's also fun to see how weird some people may be. I think my last people-watching excursion was at Kennywood Fright Nights. Now that was a treat, because I was able to not only laugh everytime someone was spooked by a ghoul, but I also was able to be disgusted by the amount of public displays of affection around me. Okay, I need to get back on topic again...
This short story inspires me to spend a day on a park bench and document everything I see. I actually think it could be a pretty useful experience. I could hone my writing skills while also working on my observational skills. Both of these skills are good for a journalist to have, so I really see no harm in wasting my day in the great outdoors--maybe at Twin Lakes or something.
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