Never I was Crying
David Abbott
Almost immediately after being asked to take part in this project, I read an article on the
New York Times website about an auction of Amish diaries taking place in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

The author explained that the Amish rarely describe their feelings, and that many pages of the diaries
are devoted to the mundane activities of every day life such as cleaning stables, collecting duck eggs,
and (I suppose) baking bread. When a major event, such as a death occurs in the community it is often
described with some "dryness." A bread recipe, and the passing of a relative may be recalled on one
page with equal impassiveness.

David Abbott was born in Hertfordshire, England, but grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia in the USA.
His work is becoming increasingly wordy, and his influences include signage, road-detritus, modern American
novels, country music and conversation. He describes his work as both amusing and serious.
www.hackleys.com
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