The Jug of Tears
Although it was no one's fault, everything felt wrong — the bus, the subway, the walk, the cafe, the coffee. I kept asking the barista to remake my coffee because it was too unsweet, too bitter, too watery, etc. After receiving a third cup, I finally realized what was going on: I was in a bad mood. I was also tired — my whole body ached. It rained the entire day, and on my way home, I fell from the stairs. I was crumpled on the wet ground, but no one cared. I couldn't sleep well that night either. In dreams, I was in a workshop. The instructor asked everyone to define love. Some said “Infancy.” I said “Action.” When I woke up, it was still raining. The high wind chilled me, and I knew I would have to try everything again.
FYI:
Strasser derived inspiration for the small-scale sculpture The Jug of Tears from a tale by the German author Ludwig Bechstein. In it, the ghost of a girl appears to her mother, carrying a brimming “jug of tears” in which the mourning mother’s tears are collected. The child reassures the mother that she is happy and asks her not to shed any more tears – otherwise she will not find peace in her grave and salvation in heaven.
https://onlinecollection.leopoldmuseum.org/en/object/36610-the-jug-of-tears-model/