Remembering Annie Dillard
I read «Pilgrim at Tinker Creek» by Annie Dillard as an English student at Agder Distrikthøgskole, now Agder University, in 1989-1991. 35 years later, Annie Dillard has passed away, and I think of the legacy she left behind.
«Pilgrim at Tinker Creek» was on our syllabus in the American Literature part of our coursework, alongside Henry David Thoreau and his «Walden Pond». I remember being deeply moved by her year of studying life by Tinker Creek. Memories of the praying mantis remain. However, more than the details of her work, my love of observing water flowered by reading her work. I am grateful for having read and been inspired by Annie Dillard’s work. She taught me more than I could put into words at the time.
Today, I write poems. Several are inspired by the nearby Øverland river. One of them is called «Pilgrim»:
Pilgrim
A skipping stone would seek a wider shore
Mine is a river
A rolling stone would forever seek a new harbor
Mine is a river
A touchstone changes everything
Mine is a river
© Helene Møller 2026 All rights reserved
In the mix 