Sarah Watts, Identity
‘It was weird opening this letter because apart from never having seen my natural mum’s handwriting before, a photograph of her slipped out – the first time I clapped eyes on her. She posted it in the night I had first talked to her, on the phone. She wrote: ‘’Hope you slept well last night […]
Katherine Mansfield, Reflection
‘Oh, I have such a longing for the sea as I write, at this moment. To stand on the shore long enough to feel the land behind one withdrawn into silence and the tumbling of the waves rise and break over one’s whole being.’ Reflection [Katherine Mansfield] [Letter written by Katherine Mansfield to Lady Ottoline […]
Marilyn Monroe, Not just a girl at the beach
‘They said: “You could sew or play checkers, even cards and maybe knit.” These things were furthest from my mind. They asked me why I felt I was “different” (from the other patients I guess) so I decided if they were really that stupid I must give them a very simple answer so I said: […]
Vincent van Gogh, Looking for a friend
‘But it’s on days like this that one would like to go and see some friend or would like a friend to come to the house; and it’s on days like this that one has an empty feeling when one can go nowhere and nobody comes.’ Looking for a friend [‘To Theo van Gogh, 10 […]
Emilie Dickinson, Your Letter
‘And I do love to run fast and hide away from them all. Here in dear Susie’s bosom, I know is love and rest, and I never would go away, did not the big world call me, and beat me for not working… Your precious letter, Susie, it sits here now, and smiles so kindly […]
Kalyani Kolli, Another version of myself
‘Who I once was is not who I am now. But the girl I once was has turned me into the beautiful and strong woman I am proud to say I am today.’ Another version of myself [On March 3, 2018, Kalyani Kolli wrote an open letter to herself, reflecting on self-compassion and personal growth. […]
William Blake, More than just a forest?
‘The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of a man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.’ More than just a […]
Vita Sackville, I just miss you
‘You have no idea how stand-offish I can be with people I don’t love. I have brought it to a fine art. But you have broken down my defences. And I don’t really resent it … Please forgive me for writing such a miserable letter. V.’ I just miss you [‘I am reduced to a […]
