The plant would still be distinguished… and that in itself is its own reward

“Struggling over steep hills covered with hedgerows, trees, and generally impenetrable jungle, one of my men turned to me and pointed a hand, filled with cuts and scratches, at a rather distinguished-looking plant with soft red flowers… – Sandy Kempner

I received an email on Friday and learned an acquaintance was reading Resurgam. Although he was on page 39, he offered feedback, which included:  “Phil, we learn, is a poet, but there is also Sandy’s beautiful and profound letter.  The reader is led not simply to hear such voices respectfully but to think along with their spirit.  His cherished plant among the blasted warscape provoked in me this remembrance of Whitehead’s words….“

With the mention of Sandy Kempner’s letter, the plant with red flowers waving gaily in the downpour and the tired Marine who wrote the letter arrived in my memory.  What timing.

Beauty as a form of emotional nourishment

This letter records beauty as a form of emotional nourishment. Originally, I found Sandy’s letter in the early months of my search for Alpha Company way back in my late twenties. For me, so much was unknown and there were many battles with doubt at that time. The unexpected beauty described in Sandy’s letter offered a completely different perspective. 

…The plant was beautiful, and the thought was kind, and the person was humane, and distinguished and brave, not merely because other people recognized it as such, but because it is, and it is, and it is. 

Because it is, and it is, and it is

Even if they had never gone on that hill, the plant would still be distinguished, soft, red, thornless flower growing among the cutting, scratching plans and that in itself is its own reward. 

Yet in the midst of it all, a beautiful thought, gesture, and even a person can arise month it waving bravely at the death that pours down upon it. 

Sandy’s words proved true. A beautiful thought, gesture and person did rise above it. Sandy and the flower achieved “a sort of immortality.” 

Read Sandy Kempner’s letter in its entirety.