Open Poetry #47 |
Forest Fairytale |
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
FOREST FAIRYTALE 6 September 2011 Once upon a time there was a handsome prince who found an injured squirrel at the edge of a forest and his heart bled for the little fellow and he asked the little furry being to wait while he went to the nearby mountain stream that he heard singing a song of joy just out of sight and he took off his silk shirt and ripped off two strips and soaked them both in the pure water of the little stream and went back to the squirrel and cleaned his wound gently with one strip and with the other, bandaged his little friend’s wound. What he didn’t know was that from the shadows of the forest, someone was watching, a woodnymph, a dear friend of the squirrel. She was about to shout and attack and chase away the man from the world of men, for she thought he was going to harm her friend, but his compassionate eyes and the gentleness in his voice and his kind actions reassured her and she watched as he eased the squirrel’s pain and warmed his little squirrel heart, and the more she watched, the more the prince captured her heart. He came back every day with salve and medicine to lead his little friend on to a full recovery and after that the squirrel and the prince still met every day simply because they were friends and loved to spend time together, teaching each other many good things, and each day, the woodnymph watched them from the shadow of her tree friends and with each day she fell more and more deeply in love with the prince. She called on the trees that grew tall around her protecting her from all harm, and at her supplication they wove a spell on the handsome prince letting him notice her from a distance one day when he met with his squirrel friend. He saw her long flowing hair and her eyes of sky-blue and the soft silk of her simple dress hugging her lithe body and her bare feet as she sprang from rock to tree root like a gentle fawn. He saw all this and he fell as much in love with her as she was with him. As the days went by, the woodnymph was on his mind more and more and he looked for her every day when he visited his squirrel friend. At first, he stood outside and just looked deep into the forest but soon he ventured into it, starting, at first, at each sound he didn’t know but soon felt the bond and goodwill of all the forest creatures and trees and plants. Each day he went further and further into the forest, and the woodnymph played hide-and-seek with him luring him further and further into her forest haven not knowing how to initiate their first meeting. The forest creatures and trees and flowers encouraged her, but she hedged, and asked them to let her do it her own way and in her own time. All being part of the closely bonded forest family they honoured her wishes. One day the prince went into the forest earlier than usual and the trees, grown exasperated, with the woodnymph, could no longer keep their word and they cast a spell upon her and sent her into a deep sleep and they cast another upon the prince and led him to where she lay sleeping. He was breathless at her beauty and vulnerability and stood watching her sleep until the trees, exasperated with the prince, sang her awake. They both blushed and stammered as they started talking but soon were at ease with each other and learned each other’s story of love and longing for each other, except that the trees kept their role a secret from both. Before they parted, their lips blended in a kiss that opened their souls to a heavenly bliss. Each day the prince would return and the two fell more in love with each passing day. However, they knew that they were from different worlds – worlds that were worlds apart and they knew that their joy could not last. One day, the woodnymph, understanding that the obligations of the prince to his people and her bond with her forest home could not be blended, she hid from the prince in a veil of invisibility, a veil that brought her instant death. When the forest creatures told the prince what had happened, he died there and then of a broken heart. But, they say, if you go into the forest with your heart and your mind open to compassion and nature and goodness, you will see the translucent grey spirits of the handsome prince and his woodnymph in a dance of love and longing and as she pirouettes he will lift her high above his head, but as he puts her down, they rush away from each other and advance and retire over and over again. If you see them, stand still and hold your whispers and your breath, because, if you don’t, they will both die again though it is known amongst those that love the forest, that no matter how many times they die, their love for each other is immortal and will be recounted through the mists of time to generation after generation who live near that magical forest. Do you? Owl |
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© Copyright 2011 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A pleasure to read...James |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Immortal love ... isn't that exactly what we imagine when we love! To make it last forever, even through countless reincarnations, always reuniting magically. Your tale, dear Diana, is very very captivating and I felt like watching just next to the woodnymph when the Prince performed his act of compassion and love towards the squirrel. Your imagery is wonderful and made me really identify with all of the characters here. Even with the trees ... Just beautiful, like pure water sprinkled over thirsty flower souls. Brava! Love, Margherita |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Very intriguing read; your fairytale appears to be a never-ending tale and so very fragile. Enjoyed the adventure! JL Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I was held captivated through every line... what a beautiful tale you've told... pure delight!! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, James. Thank you, Margherita, for your beautiful reply, and an especial thank you for identifying with the trees. Thank you, JL, for enjoying the adventure, and especially for understanding its fragility. Thank you, Ruth, for your delight, and for my happiness in bringing that lovely smile to your face. Smiling back. Owl |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
hi diana,this is a kind of deep message tale; it works beautifully and artfully, I am touched too, because of its universal purpose, love betwwen a prince and a nymph, isn't it always what everyone dreams of, I am not used to long poems but this one captivates me until its end, thaks for the wonderful share, yann |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
My dear friend, Yann, thank you for your beautiful and touching and deep reply to my poem. I feel honoured that the story held your attention to the end, especially as you, as you say, are not used to long poems. Owl |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
A beautiful story, Diana. You should write children's books! I plan on sharing this with my grand-daughter who recently wrote a 1,000 word story herself...age 8. She'll love it! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, very much, Karilea. I am very honoured at what you say. I did actually write 2 very short children's books encouraging them to notice things in nature, but needed an illustrator (and didn't have one) and had it refused by 2 publishers - one because I said beautiful things about snakes and wasn't prepared to take that out and didn't try any further. I am not even sure where they are now. I also started a story book for older children and didn't get past the first few pages. I don't know where that is either. I wrote various poems for my children and a series of poems for my granchildren called The Meeting of the Birds (or something similar). I am extremely honoured that you are going to read this poem to your granddaughter and also that you believe she will love it - and I am very impressed that she wrote a a 1,000 word story herself at the age of 8! Thank you for sharing that with me. Owl |
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