A Blanket for the Sultan - pipTalk Forums

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iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

0 posted 2004-07-23 01:40 AM

A fable was told and passed on to the children
of a royal princess and Javanese sultan.
The princess and he lived a life of bliss
for many, many days,
until the lovely royal girl
spoke once too much the wrong way.
This was not his way and the sultan began to stray.
The princess knew she’d lost her love.
To whom or what she was not sure.
So she chose to ask the stars above
For ways to win back her amore’.

A mystery then was shown to her,
At least, that is how I’ve heard it said.
This mystery, it came in a subltety.
This miracle came in colored thread
of midnight blue died cotton
and white, so strong and pure.
The mystery of ikat weaving was given just to her.
So she began, blend and bend,
the ikat of her love’s design.
She wove dark blue with snow-white stars.
She set her sights on heaven so fine.

Curious to know if she was grieving,
her sultan came to find her, weaving.
He’d never seen this done before, and his
inquiring mind wanted to know more.
Was this a new form of mathematics?
"What is she doing that matters so
she does not turn to speak?
So much that she no longer takes
the time to notice me?”

Each night the sultan kept coming back.
For nothing in knowledge he wanted to lack.
Island breezes blew palm trees as
he watched in awe of her silent weave.
She sat on a lion’s rug in front of the palace
Weeping and weaving to the stars above,
Telling each one there in silence’s motion
of her love for her sultan and her true devotion.

Night after starry night, this went on,
At last the sultan no more roamed.
He watched, mesmerized, entranced
by her lovely fingers' steady dance.
For no other woman had done this before,
pulled stars down from heaven to the floor,
and woven them into a threaded sheet.
When she had finished, the task complete,
she placed the miracle at his feet.
She thanked the stars and dried her eyes,
then vowed a promise to the sky.
She never spoke a word again,
but their love went on without an end.

[This message has been edited by iliana (07-23-2004 11:38 AM).]

Susan
Member Ascendant

since 2004-03-27

Posts 5104
walking the surreal

1 posted 2004-07-23 01:46 AM

Exquisite. What a beautiful story woven into verse. Much enjoyed dear jo.

susan

Happiness isn't something that happens to you, it's created from within you. Joy is a state of mind.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

2 posted 2004-07-23 02:10 AM

Susan, thanks, sweet lady. (I've made a number of changes since you read it; hope it reads a little smoother now).

.....jo (BTW -- this is a true fable -- not one I made up -- that I was told when I lived in Indonesia about how ikat weaving came about.)

Snow

Senior Member

since 2000-10-16

Posts 1170
desert flower looking for rain

3 posted 2004-07-23 02:21 AM

i'm just doomed to cry at all i read tonight..... oh how this just curled up inside my heart.... i'm so glad i've had the chance to read it~~~ s

Susan
Member Ascendant

since 2004-03-27

Posts 5104
walking the surreal

4 posted 2004-07-23 02:21 AM

Oh yeah, jo, great. Again, what a beautiful story. It is rather magical, this.

Living in Indonesia -- cool. What a very different culture to experience. Thanks for giving me a little slice of their magic . . .

Hugs you -- Susan

Happiness isn't something that happens to you, it's created from within you. Joy is a state of mind.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

5 posted 2004-07-23 02:23 AM

Snow -- this story was one told to me when I lived over seas.....it made me cry, too. Thanks for appreciating it! And, *hugs* .......jo

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

6 posted 2004-07-23 02:24 AM

Susan -- Thanks again; I like it a little better now. Yes, it was an amazing experience in every way -- not always an easy one, but definitely one I am grateful to have experienced! And yes, there was much magic! Love you, jo

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

7 posted 2004-07-23 02:59 AM

I'm in awe...wow

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

8 posted 2004-07-23 03:01 AM

Dixie -- Thanks so much.....hope you're having a nice evening....me, I've got to go to bed here pretty soon....how do we keep these hours, anyway???? hugs, jo

1slick_lady
Member Ascendant

since 2000-12-22

Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace

9 posted 2004-07-23 06:30 AM

beautiful

Jes
Member

since 2003-10-21

Posts 422
Denmark

10 posted 2004-07-23 07:18 AM

Smile

Ahhhhhhhhhh..... back in bed at young age were mom always told stories.

Smile thanks for bringing those pretty memories back.

Smile

Jes

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

11 posted 2004-07-23 07:18 AM

a beautiful tale...and pretty much what happened to me, although I have weaved and created all along in my life, for one man only... and I am sure he in the back barn would come home if allowed, but the straying took its toll and I would rather do without, then ever trust him again.

Just my take on the tale~~

M

"Love is not blind - It sees more and not less, but because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
(Will Moss)

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

12 posted 2004-07-23 07:22 AM

So much art received
in the right kind of silence...
what a story.

I had wondered at its origin...

I loved it!

icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

13 posted 2004-07-23 09:02 AM

excellent.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

14 posted 2004-07-23 09:06 AM

Jo this is exquisite!!
What a fantastic story...I love it!
A keeper for my library.
Hugs~

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
Dancing with you in the summer rain ~

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

15 posted 2004-07-23 09:06 AM

an absolute marvel you are, wonderful story to read and ponder, thank you and Good morning, thank you for such the tremendous painting you just gave us.

SEA

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 2000-01-18

Posts 22676
with you

16 posted 2004-07-23 09:46 AM

this is a great story and you told it flawlessly! The rhyme just bounces as you read! Very much enjoyed this!

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

17 posted 2004-07-23 10:00 AM

Wonderful story!
I really enjoy stories, and you did a
magical job with this one!

JL

miscellanea
Member Elite

since 2004-06-24

Posts 4060
OH

18 posted 2004-07-23 11:07 AM

Exquisite, Jo! I wish I had the right words to convey the beauty of this.
misc'e

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

19 posted 2004-07-23 12:55 PM

Jo

What a delightful story....excellent, the way you told it! Thank you..

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

20 posted 2004-07-23 02:24 PM

A magical tale woven into an exquisite poetic piece of tapestry. Thoroughly enjoyed, Lily One!

Loves 'n hugs,
Linda

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

21 posted 2004-07-23 03:14 PM

(smiles) Awwwwwwww, this is such a gorgeous love story, sweet friend, I dream so much myself to borrow the stars from the heaven and put them over my dream girl as she sleeps until the morning comes where I'll then return them for all the other lovers of the world to borrow! (kiss on cheek) God Bless You, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Jo, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

muted

Member Elite

since 2004-01-15

Posts 2949
Elapsing, Eclipsing, Evolving

22 posted 2004-07-23 03:17 PM

loved this!
you have related this fable sooo well...enjoyed every word of it

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-29

Posts 7115
South Africa

23 posted 2004-07-23 04:24 PM

Simply lovely! I've always known that hands are important when it comes to love and this story seems to prove that. I've never tried weaving in between the weeping - too busy wiping the tears away but some people are gifted more than others and can manage most everything ... and you, dear Jo, can tell a marvelous tale.

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

24 posted 2004-07-23 08:03 PM

This poem is a treasure...it is awesome,
beautiful, humbling, entrancing, and
much much more. Touching, very touching Jo.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

25 posted 2004-07-24 08:12 PM

You are all just terrific with your kind comments. This poem has a special memory for me and it means a lot that you all liked it!

.....jo

CMGrimm
Senior Member

since 2000-02-14

Posts 685
USA

26 posted 2004-07-25 10:22 AM

Great story, thanks for a wonderful read

chris

Never be a carbon copy of anybody...make your own impressions. - ANON.

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

27 posted 2004-07-25 12:49 PM

wow!

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