An Uncommon Life

Another incredible poem by Leslie Silton…

I cannot remember the exact moment I shifted
from Believing to Knowing.
I can hardly now imagine life before,
although I know it was one of endless warring,
and combat fueled with brute force,
my great sword shredding the air,
taking no prisoners.
It shocks me with amazement still
that I should ever seek resolution and peace instead.

Why can I not reconstruct now that exact sequence
in my mind
which replaced Believing
and brought me to Knowing?
As least I do remember the essence of it –
a decision as monumental
as a leap into thin air —
I was sure I would simply disappear
and yet
here I still am,
still am,
still …

Therefore do I lay down beside my sword,
peaceful and alive
on this first night on my consequential change
to sleep an honest sleep
and tomorrow to wake and breathe the air
I used to deconstruct.

“Cedar was beautiful, multi-talented and extraordinarily funny. I anticipated sharing her life for years to come, eventually growing old and cantankerous under her watchful eye.” In a few poignant phrases, author Merry Rosenfield describes the relationship she enjoyed with her daughter, who passed away in 2001.

An Uncommon Life: Surviving the Loss of a Gifted Child details the unconventional upbringing of young artist Cedar Rosenfield and her older brother David. There may have been no television or white sugar allowed in the home, but Cedar’s childhood was anything but tedious. From traveling across the country with her family in an old laundry van as a toddler, to experience in drawing, dance, writing and theatre as a home-schooled child, Cedar’s life sprang from the fertile soil of a loving and unorthodox family.

Merry Rosenfield’s sensitive writing style combined with her daughter’s beautifully executed and often humorous illustrations creates a profoundly enjoyable read. An Uncommon Life is a touching window into the penetrating bond among a family of creative people forced to deal with unthinkable tragedy. It details how their individual spirits eventually triumph over grief—a powerful reminder that joyful lives can be rebuilt after an occurrence of devastating loss.