»
Archives
»
The Corner Pub
»
Stoic Woman
| The Corner Pub |
|
Stoic Woman |
|
|
Jana Tovey Member
since 2000-05-30
Posts 257USA |
She stands alone, against a stark horizon long skirts blowing in the whipping winds smoke curling from the frame of what was once a house. Inside lay the lifeless bodies of those she loved, had loved...strange to think of them in this sense, as people in her past, now gone. Weeks ago the red men began to notice them, first to watch, then - courage growing - to steal a dress off her wash line, next, a horse or two. The horses were their life blood, so they’d fought back. Her husband shot the last one they caught thieving, and ten red men had come back... Walking off into the horizon, not knowing why, or where, no water, or supplies to sustain her on her trek. Wandering finally into a village of red men and women, hooting, hollering, touching her to see if she was a ghost. Finally, one woman takes her hand and gives her a task busies her hands, not her mind...but it’s what she needs. She stays with the red people, not caring where she is, what she looks like, how hard she works. Some of them jibe at her, but who cares, so they give up. They call her the stoic woman, and she is accepted - a part of their lives, a member of their tribe, and this suits her as she is not really alive, just in limbo. The old crone that gathers herbs leads her off one morning, they take only what they need, and Stoic Woman learns about the medicinal value of all they gather. The old crone is like a mother, she feels at peace, safe with the wizened old woman, their lives intertwine and they come to depend on one another. The old woman sought Stoic Woman out because she knew it would soon be her time to walk alone. Her passing awakens great grief in one who never really grieved. Long nights of wailing, wandering, unconsolable rage...then quiet peace. Stoic woman takes her place in the village, doctor to the same red people who once slew her family in a quarrel over horses. Now Stoic Woman is a legend in the land, for white and red alike, and many come to see the once white woman who took up with the red people, accepting their ways. They don’t realize who she once was, what she lost, they only see that she is old and bent, white hair flowing gracefully around her proud head, and they sense that she is indeed ...stoic. |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Jana Tovey - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Dennis L. White Senior Member
since 2000-02-17
Posts 1463Michigan, U.S.A. |
Jana, What a beautiful flowing narrative about survival and transformation. Your story reminds me of just how ignorant we are of others cultures different than our own. Great read! Dennis :^) Moonbeams radiate As the veiling cloud has past Playful shadows dance! D.L.White :^) |
||
|
Swåmp¤Faerÿie Member
since 2000-03-29
Posts 358Illinois |
This is a REALLY cool story. I dig the scene =] awesome wonderful great....COOL!! LOL great job swamp And there she weaves by night and day, a magic web of colours gay.~Tennyson |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
A wonderful tale of triumph over tragedy! Denise |
||
|
William P Bussey Member
since 2000-02-26
Posts 188 |
Jana, as a lover of western history, I find your story as good as any novel I have every read, it could be taken from hundreds of stories written about the west, outstanding job, you should write novels. |
||
|
dgvarner Member Elite
since 2000-05-13
Posts 3552High Springs, Florida |
hmmm..i sit rather in silence..i dont know what to say..that was a beautifully written story..please share more! dg "A Poet's life is on written page; a scenario to take the stage--watch..." dgvarner |
||
|
Jana Tovey Member
since 2000-05-30
Posts 257USA |
Thanks so much for all of your praise. This is one of my favorites and I'm glad to see that others like it. |
||
|
Jon Mewett Senior Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 1304 |
A wonderful sense of triumph pervades this tale. wonderful Jon |
||
|
Alle'cram Senior Member
since 2000-02-28
Posts 1816Texas |
Jana, I enjoyed your story very much and I am humbled by the message; the forgiveness and love given back to a people who had taken so much from her. "Stoic woman takes her place in the village, doctor to the same red people who once slew her family in a quarrel over horses." marcy |
||
|
Clee-San New Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 6 |
i must agree with everyone else! this is such an incredibly written piece...a good story and good rhythm going along with it. wonderful job, jana!  clee-san |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
