By Joyce Jacobo
[Author’s Note: “An act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” ~Aesop’s Fables]
An ancient creature roamed a forest
from one shadow to the next
silent as a whisper among the trees
with eyes worn by time
and a heart drained
like an abandoned stone well
An ancient creature who in a sharp predatory tragedy
always a threat in those woods
had lost her offspring
only to find solace in the protection
(over countless years)
of any children she found
in the forest alone
often from the nearest village
The ancient creature watched these children from the shadows
as they moved along the narrow trails
She chased away the beasts that stalked them
and whispered for them never to stray into the brush
The ancient creature even comforted and left the children food
(on occasion)
but she refused to reveal more than glimpses of her form
For the children would have run the ancient creature was certain
from a sight like a wolf but much larger and skeletal
though still radiant as moonlight on unmarred snow
who oftentimes howled late at night
to fill the darkness with whatever sorrow
had built up in her heart
during the day
Until one autumn night when lightning stalked the land
with merciless crackling dominance
that in
a singular strike
brought down
the ancient creature
at the very edge
of the forest
on the outskirts of the village
An old soul in pain
a darkened terror unable to move
who expected—
even welcomed oblivion
with a feeble whimper of despair
as the first rays of dawn revealed her
to the residents
They approached the ancient creature
and murmured in low voices
She waited to hear weapons drawn
or perhaps a bonfire set alight
Instead the villagers brought food and water
gently tended to her wounds
and wrapped a great blanket about her
The ancient creature could hardly believe
this unexpected fate until
as her vision cleared
she began to recognize the faces
of the people—
as older versions of the children
the ancient creature had led
through the forest
These villagers had grown
without fear of the ancient creature
of whom they had shared stories
related to her protection
passed onto their own children
Now they shared with the ancient creature
all the fondness accumulated in their young souls
and filled her heart with it to the brim
What a fantastic narrative poem. It became sad and beautiful, then turned around and doubled on the beautiful tone
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Thank you for coming along on that journey, even when things became sad. ^_^
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Beautiful
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Thank you so much!
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Your welcome Joyce!
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Such a beautiful, heartwarming story
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Thank you so much!!! It’s nice when the seeds of kindness planted by someone can blossom throughout a community.
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Absolutely! You’re welcome
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^_^
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Brilliant piece, Joyce. Gorgeous.💕
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I’m thrilled that you found it gorgeous, Grace. ^_^
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I sure did, Joyce.💕
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Yay!
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What a beautiful tale of sorrow, good deeds, and gratitude.
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Thanks. It’s one of those stories that I wonder about turning into a longer prose piece. ^_^
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