I fled into the mountains to cry out my despair to the skies. Nobody followed me; it was expected that I would do as I was told. Five goats and four lambs, and I was sold into a marriage that I did not want. My tears fell to soak the earth as I sat under an olive tree; I did not see the old woman at first.
She sat so very still that she seemed a part of the mountain itself. She smiled at me with kind eyes. As she tried to stand, I ran to help. I touched her arm, and all of the earth flowed within my veins, the movement of mountains and seas flooding my senses momentarily. The crone finally stood and waited for me to collect myself.
"Whatever is the matter, child?" She asked me. She was a stranger, yet kinder to me than my own father. I did not love Jorn, I told her, who was old and cruel to his sheep. I did not want to marry him.
"I love the blue of the sky, Old One." My heart could not hide my hopes. "I love the rising sun. I love the noon, when the sun is high overhead. I love the light of the sky in the evening before darkness falls."
For a moment the crone stared hard into my eyes.
"You must honor your family." her voice was crisp.
I knew that the old woman was right. With a heavy heart, I turned to make the long trek back to my village, and my duty. The crone's next words stopped me.
"Still, it is lucky that I found you." I stared at her in confusion.
"Look with wonder at that which is before you," the old woman's eyes had gone opaque, her voice had dropped. "And look for me on the day of our wedding, beloved."
The crone vanished, and in her place lay a golden arm band.
Week 13 (my lucky number!)
So, today, we took our son to Boston’s Museum of Science. His
favorite part of the museum is the audiokinetic sculpture (or as my son
calls it, the ball tower) on the lower level of the atrium, a piece
called Archimedean Excogitation, by George Rhoads.
For this week, take your inspiration from this video of the sculpture in motion and from the word WONDER:
LUCKY (adjective)
1: having good luck
2: happening by chance : fortuitous
3: producing or resulting in good by chance : favorable
this was very interesting!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and interesting post.
ReplyDeleteOh how interesting! "Wonder" indeed in every aspect, and a definite desire for more of the story. Thank you for conjuring intrigue.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the next installment?
ReplyDeleteI liked the earthiness of this piece, and the intrigue at the end too. I'd also like to read more!
ReplyDeleteI want to know what happens next! You've got me really interested here!
ReplyDeleteThat second paragraph is just gorgeous, Tina. Earth, mountain & seas transmitted through touch. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLike the implication that her betrothed is a magician of some sort, maybe he only pretends to be old to hide the fact that he has a youthful body despite being ancient...
ReplyDeleteYou must continue this! I really want to see what happens at the wedding.
ReplyDeleteOh I like this. I want to know--need to know--what happens next!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful voice. I want to know what happens next!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm in wonder! Really mystical.
ReplyDeleteOk, where's the rest? We are hanging here! Very well done.
ReplyDeleteIntriguingly fascinating end-wonder what happens next?
ReplyDeleteI just read the continuing part first and had to come see this story. Very well done!
ReplyDelete