I dreamed I was stuck in M.C. Escher’s Relativity. I walked down to the upstairs and then up to the downstairs, and when I was down, I was up again, so I walked up in order to be down again. I tried the straightest path, but the room — if it can be called a room — tilted like the scene where Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling. There were others there in my dream, walking as if gravity did not exist. I waved to a man on the ceiling, only to realize that he was on the floor, and I was on the ceiling. After a while, I wondered what was my destination and how I would recognize it when I reached it. And wondering, I heard someone say, “Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.”
© Susan Joy Clark 2021
This was written for dVerse’s Prosery challenge, with requirements that it could not exceed 144 words and had to include the Jo Harjo quote, “Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.”
Good way to stay calm in that room and the endlessness of it is like some dreams I’ve had where I finally forced myself awake.
Escheristically mind-bending. Awesome work.
Thank you, Ron. 🙂
Susan,
Wonderfully described! It’s almost as if the quotation were made for Escher’s art.
Pax,
Dora
Thanks so much, Dora. 🙂
This was fun to try to wrap my brain around. Perfect for the quote! 👏👏
Thank you. I was thinking what to do with that quote, left the house to do something and Escher popped into my head. It’s funny how ideas come to you when you’re away from the computer.
You have an awosome contemplation
Thank you, Mina.
You are the most welcome Susan
I liked the mental gymnastics, nicely done!
Thank you! 🙂
YES❣️ I love M. C. Escher. My father had his works hanging on the walls of his office at home, and we had books of his artwork on our shelves. This was great, Susan❣️
-David
That doesn’t surprise me from what I know about your dad. My dad is also a fan, and we have some Escher books in the house. I gave Dad an Escher tie once too, I think. I learned about both Escher and Mobius from Dad. He is a retired electrical engineer and an inventor with 44 patents. I was trying to remember the title of your dad’s book to share with my dad, but I need a reminder.
Susan, yep – I learned about the Mobius strip and Escher from Dad, as you surmised! Dad’s website is – cut-the-knot.org/
The link to his book (of the same name) is directly on the homepage.
Much love and appreciation,
David
I went to your dad’s site. The puzzles there are definitely up my dad’s alley. I showed it to him, and I think he entertained himself for a while there. Maybe, I will remember your dad’s book for my dad at Christmas time. A common Christmas gift theme for Dad from either my brothers or me are puzzles or puzzle books. We try hard to find things he’d find challenging. 🙂
let me know if you do and if he likes it 😀
thanks, Susan
Excellent way into the prompt. I love ‘I walked down to the upstairs and then up to the downstairs’ – I don’t know if you are familiar with the Mr Men children’s books, but that is exactly what Mr Topsy Turvy would do! This movie scene is also based on the Escher painting for sure:
I am vaguely familiar with the Mr. Men books. I know of them and would recognize them on shelves but don’t know the stories really well. Next time, I spot those books in the bookstore (or library,) I’ll have to look up Mr. Topsy Turvy. Thanks for your nice comment, Ingrid. 🙂
‘He got his up muddled up with his down. Or was that his down muddled up with his up?’ 🙂
Hi Ingrid. I’m just now seeing that you posted the video of the scene from “Labyrinth.” That scene is definitely Escheresque. I actually haven’t seen the movie, but after reading a biography of Jim Henson, I have some curiosity about it now. You might see from my site that I’m a puppeteer, although I haven’t been posting puppet-related things lately.
In that case I certainly recommend it!
I LOVE LOVE Escher art! Your prosery piece is wonderful.
Thank you, Helen. I’m glad to know another Escher fan.
I think the only way to realize that this is OK is to realize that it’s all in a dream
True. 🙂
Love this- makes me think that the mind is capable of handling several things at once.. be it emotions or logic.. perhaps our dreams are a way of guiding us though the chaos.💝💝
Thank you, Sanaa. 🙂
Escher, dreams, and Astaire? It’s like you’re walking about in my brain. And though that thought is a bit scary, I love it your piece!
Thanks for the dance clip, too. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen it.
What a wonderful comment, Merril. Thank you. Perhaps, we have some similar “likes” then. 🙂
You’re welcome. It sounds like it! 😀