Black eyes Quote by Terry Tempest Williams
““I want my life to be a celebration of slowness. Walking through the sage from our front door, I am gradually drawn into the well-worn paths of deer. They lead me to Round Mountain and the bloodred side canyons below Castle Rock. Sometimes I see them, but often I don't. Deer are quiet creatures, who, when left to their own nature, move slowly. Their large black eyes absorb all shadows, especially the flash of predators. And their ears catch each word spoken. But today they walk ahead with their halting prance, one leg raised, then another, and allow me to follow them. I am learning how to not provoke fear and flight among deer. We move into a pink, sandy wash, their black-tipped tails like eagle feathers. I lose sight of them as they disappear around the bend. On the top of the ridge I can see for miles… Inside this erosional landscape where all colors eventually bleed into the river, it is hard to desire anything but time and space. Time and space. In the desert there is space. Space is the twin sister of time. If we have open space then we have open time to breath, to dream, to dare, to play, to pray to move freely, so freely, in a world our minds have forgotten but our bodies remember. Time and space. This partnership is holy. In these redrock canyons, time creates space--an arch, an eye, this blue eye of sky. We remember why we love the desert; it is our tactile response to light, to silence, and to stillness. Hand on stone -- patience. Hand on water -- music.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Desert Reflections, Terry Tempest Williams, 2014
The writer uses deer and desert imagery to celebrate slowing down, embracing space, and finding spiritual calm in nature.
In simple terms: She values slowness, space, and quiet connection with the desert.
Seek stillness and spaciousness to restore balance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- hiking in desert
- meditation
- creative writing
- environmental advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create space for stillness daily?
- What does the desert teach about time?
Slowness may be impractical in fast-paced life.