The essay “Teaching a Stone to Talk” opens with a description of cranky man named Larry who does, in fact, try to teach a stone to talk. Several times a day, he takes a certain stone off his shelf, removes its cover, and gives it lessons. This light-hearted story leads into a broader discussion of speech, silence, and listening. I love the way Dillard skillfully uses a telescoping method to shift her focus to the deeper importance of paying attention, or as she calls it, “bearing witness.” She is a world-class observer of the visible and, more importantly, the imagined.
Dillard, Annie. Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters. Harper & Row, 1982. p.67.