Originally a plant

by Maritea Dæhlin

Originally I was a plant, as you. Then we grew. So different from each other. Still together. We don't understand. Anything. No need for that. The understanding. Never in the way of being together. Next to each other.

What do you see when you see me?

In Originally a plant Maritea Dæhlin weaves together various languages. This is a reality for many of us, who continuously shift between languages, having to leave an open space for interpretation, lost words, ways of reading what is said or heard. This weave becomes a visual and sonic landscape, where some will be seen and some unseen, continuously appearing and disappearing, being understood and misunderstood.

When I see you, I see a group of people, like a herd, or like a football team, or like a continent, I see how you look away from me, all of you, and I hear our laughter, I feel how my stomach hurts, it cramps, hurting, because of our laughter, then I feel love, love for your people, and I look into your eyes, even you are looking away, and I say «I love you»

But can you love me?

I will not answer.

As a plant.