First Place Theactoftakingupspace,AudreyMayo

Theact of taking up space

Audrey Mayo '24

Whenweareyoung, handsnot weathered, barefooted, andeyesstill bathedinEden, Weareoftentoldthat thebreathswebreathearepreciousones. Onestobethankful for. Philosophersandtheologiansalikewill tell you, That lifeitself isagift, Astatistical miracleor anact of divinelove. Andisalwaystrue. Whether explainedbymath,or God, lifeisforever, andforever, unfathomablyprecious. Andyet, it isequallytruetosay,that wefell wemust work, weather our hands boot our feet andbitethat apple, tomakeour stayworthit. Isn't that true?

That despiteevery number, andpassage, andparent, Tellingyouyour lifeisamiracle,livingitself Isthebareminimum. Youworrythat youtakeupspace, That onethistableof earth Youmust earnyour keep.

Andthat noonewouldcryif youmet your quietus, tooearlyor toolate. But, Thetail of atiger doesnot worryitself, of itsexistence simplybecausethebeast couldlivewithout it.

Andthefour-hundredthhill inavalleyof four thousand, doesnot weepbecausethevalleycouldgoon, perfectlywell, without it. Becausemaybewejust are. Wearejust alivebecauseweweremeant tobe. Becauseif weweren't meant tobe,youwouldn't bereadingthis, AndI wouldn't bewritingit. And,whenyoudoget toyour final peace,

Theattendeesdressedinblack, Will not bemusing About thespaceyoutookup But rather weeping About thespaceyouleft behind.