Empathy in Lincoln in the Bardo Sofia Hines College

"I can’t believe you are an old widow, said Miranda Debb.

And so little, said Susanna Briggs.

You who was always so pretty, said Miranda Debb.

You had it rough, said Cynthia Hoynton.

The tide ran out but never ran in, said Susanna Briggs.

The stones rolled downhill but never rolled back up, said Cynthia Hoynton.
You never in your life was given enough, said Miranda Debb.

My eyes teared up. That is so true, I said.

You are a wave that has crashed upon the shore, said Miranda.

We say these things to speed you along, said Susanna. I said I didn’t know about any of that, but I sure would fancy another one of those pills.

Come with us then, Miranda said. The McBains in the gully paused to listen. As did the cows. As did, somehow, the barn.

I was so tired and had been tired for ever so long.

I believe I will come with, I said.

mrs. abigail blass (86)

George Saunders recently said in an interview “We seem to be born to love — that seems to be what we do naturally and what we crave to do. And then all along, we sort of know that everything is conditional. So how do you, in this world, live joyfully and productively in the face of those two truths?” (Staff). The unique world and characters Saunders creates in Lincoln in the Bardo present...