A cluster of tiny insects flies outside my window this evening. There are thousands of little bodies twinkling in a cloud of movement that is backlit by the setting sun, and framed by dark spruce boughs.
They circle forever counter-clockwise, wheeling on and on in an air show of tiny sparkles.
There are always two diamond dust rings, one large and one small. The tiny ones slip from one swirl of bodies to the other, but each whirling disk holds fast to its appointed size. The whirling cycles are gossamer but have more momentum than the most powerful of hurricanes.
Why do they dance? Are they hunting? Are they chanting incantations to the setting sun? Perhaps they are a living key that releases the sun from its daily toil.
Whatever they may be, the miniature circling clouds are delicate, wild and weaving magic in the pink light of evening. They bring me happiness.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
An Ancient Lesson
Fairy tales were not originally meant to entertain but rather to teach. This story haunts me and shadows some of my dreams. If I can hold the lesson in my heart I will become a better person.
Prince LLewelyn had a favorite greyhound named Gellert that had been given to him by his father-in-law King John. He was a gentle as a lamb at home but a lion in the chase. One day LLewelyn went to the chase and blew his horn in front of the castle. All the other dogs came to his call but Gellert did not answer. So he blew another blast and called Gellert by name but still the greyhound did not come. Prince LLewelyn would wait no longer and rode off to the hunt. He did not enjoy the day because the swiftest and boldest of his hounds, Gellert was not there.
He turned back to the castle in a rage. When he got to the gate, the hound came near to him. He was startle to see that his lips and fangs were dripping with blood. The greyhound crouched down at his feet as if surprised or afraid of how his master greeted him.
Now the Prince had a little son a year old with whom Gellert used to play. A terrible thought came to his mind. He ran toward the nursery where he found the cradle overturned and daubed with blood.
LLewelyn was terrified and sought for his everywhere. He could not find him but only saw signs of a terrible conflict in which blood had been shed. At last he felt sure that dog had destroyed his child. Shouting to Gellert "Monster, thou hast devoured my child" he drew out his sword and plunged it into the greyhound's side, who fell with a deep yell still gazing into his master's eyes.
As Gellert raised his dying yell, a little child's voice answered it from beneath the cradle, and LLewelyn found his child unharmed and just awakened from sleep. But just beside him was the body of a great gaunt wolf all torn to pieces and covered with blood.
Too late, LLewelyn learned what had happened while he was away. Gellert had stayed behind to guard the child and had fought and slain the wolf that had tried to destroy LLewelyn's heir.
In vain was LLewelyn's grief, he could not bring his faithful dog to life again. So he buried him outside the castle walls within sight of the mountain of Snowdon, where every passer-by could see his grave, and raised over it a great cairn of stones. To this day the place is called Beth Gellert or the grave of Gellert.
The history of the story traces it's journey to Wales from Bhuddhistic India. It is taken from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. The names in the story have become Welsh over the centuries - linked to actual locations and given names.
Prince LLewelyn had a favorite greyhound named Gellert that had been given to him by his father-in-law King John. He was a gentle as a lamb at home but a lion in the chase. One day LLewelyn went to the chase and blew his horn in front of the castle. All the other dogs came to his call but Gellert did not answer. So he blew another blast and called Gellert by name but still the greyhound did not come. Prince LLewelyn would wait no longer and rode off to the hunt. He did not enjoy the day because the swiftest and boldest of his hounds, Gellert was not there.
He turned back to the castle in a rage. When he got to the gate, the hound came near to him. He was startle to see that his lips and fangs were dripping with blood. The greyhound crouched down at his feet as if surprised or afraid of how his master greeted him.
Now the Prince had a little son a year old with whom Gellert used to play. A terrible thought came to his mind. He ran toward the nursery where he found the cradle overturned and daubed with blood.
LLewelyn was terrified and sought for his everywhere. He could not find him but only saw signs of a terrible conflict in which blood had been shed. At last he felt sure that dog had destroyed his child. Shouting to Gellert "Monster, thou hast devoured my child" he drew out his sword and plunged it into the greyhound's side, who fell with a deep yell still gazing into his master's eyes.
As Gellert raised his dying yell, a little child's voice answered it from beneath the cradle, and LLewelyn found his child unharmed and just awakened from sleep. But just beside him was the body of a great gaunt wolf all torn to pieces and covered with blood.
Too late, LLewelyn learned what had happened while he was away. Gellert had stayed behind to guard the child and had fought and slain the wolf that had tried to destroy LLewelyn's heir.
In vain was LLewelyn's grief, he could not bring his faithful dog to life again. So he buried him outside the castle walls within sight of the mountain of Snowdon, where every passer-by could see his grave, and raised over it a great cairn of stones. To this day the place is called Beth Gellert or the grave of Gellert.
The history of the story traces it's journey to Wales from Bhuddhistic India. It is taken from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. The names in the story have become Welsh over the centuries - linked to actual locations and given names.
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