In Portland, Oregon, there is statue, named Portlandia, which I like to think is famous. She is the second largest copper statue in America. Only the Statue of Liberty is larger. Why then was she placed on a second story facade so that you really have to know of her existence and then search for it to see it.
Here is a close up so you don't have to squint.
There was a contest to write a piece of poetry about Portlandia and what it mean to the city. This was the winning entry. I like it as much as the statue.
Portlandia
She kneels down
and from the quietness
of copper
reaches out.
We take that stillness
Into ourselves,
And somewhere
deep in the earth
our breath
becomes her city.
If she could speak
this is what
she would say:
Follow that breath
Home is the journey we make.
That is how the world
knows where we are
by Ronald Talney.
Portlandia
She kneels down
and from the quietness
of copper
reaches out.
We take that stillness
Into ourselves,
And somewhere
deep in the earth
our breath
becomes her city.
If she could speak
this is what
she would say:
Follow that breath
Home is the journey we make.
That is how the world
knows where we are
by Ronald Talney.
