Dylan Thomas, Swansea-born poet, called his place of birth an "ugly, lovely, town." That line has been circulating in my head since I got here. So much of Swansea is glorious--the seaweed-littered shore, the well-kept gardens, the unexpected doorways, the Welsh, English, French, and Brazilian accents, the ever-steaming kettles.
At first I was aghast that he would call this city ugly, but I'm realizing that on this earth even the most paradisical place has blemishes. Smoke here congregates in stifling clouds around doorways, the borrowed bus stinks, the floor above me creaks like it's going to fall in, in the city scaffolding marrs old, stone structures, and on campus colorful 80s designed buildings rise like a jester against the gray sky.
But it's the ugliness that makes the lovely all the more worth having. Or is it the other way around? The loveliness makes the ugliness worth giving a chance.
Joy has declared multiple times already, "We are moving here!"
I am happy to have no choice in the matter.
Posted with Blogsy
Even Japan has its ugliness though tremendously fewer than other places in the world. We won't see perfection until we enter into the new earth. Your favorite view of the sea again!
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