“And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
The book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak both fascinated and frightened me as a child.
My favorite scenes occur as a forest grows in Max’s room. Then the banks of an ocean appear. Max travels solo in his boat, by night and day for almost a year! Or at least, what feels to be a year! (Some days are just like that.)
As a child, I could hide myself in those spaces and that imaginative solo voyage.
Max finally reaches a far off shore, after his long voyage … only to be confronted by giant terrible Wild Things!
Now looking back upon the story as an adult, I am even more so struck by young Max’s courage to stare down and shout at the Wild Things,
“Be Still!”
I am reminded that there continue to be many things out there that roar at us, no matter what our age.
Sometimes we have the words to face those Wild Things. And sometimes, we have to steadfastly seek them.
Either way, whichever might be true for you . . .
I hope you always have someone who loves you best of all.
Where the Wild Things Are
watercolor
12” x 17”