Post by unkakris on Jul 9, 2016 0:01:18 GMT -5
Once upon a time (for I am told this is how one begins such a story) there lived a lady Raven.
When she was very little, just out of her shell, a hatchling, she and her brother were pushed out of the nest. A kindly old bird named Corbeau found them and brought them into his nest. He patiently tended their wounds.
As the little Raven mended, she watched the other birds nearby. Entranced by their flight, she asked Corbeau, "will I fly one day?"
Corbeau smiled, patted her with his wings, and said "mon petite, you will fly like no other. Birds will come from afar just to watch you soar and tumble. And your lustrous plumage will make them fall in love with you."
This made the lady Raven happy.
Sadly, the kindly Corbeau was married to an unkind bird, Pavo, who was jealous of the lady Raven. Pavo could not stand having the two little ravens in her nest, but was only able to get Corbeau to give the brother to another nest. She never saw her brother again.
A bright bird, healing from her wounds, she began to fly once her wings were strong enough. And as her beloved Corbeau had promised, she was magnificent. Driven by a fierce determination, and despite the envious and spiteful words of Pavo, the little Raven excelled.
When she was in the air, it was if she was transported away from the pain of her past. Learning to fly was not easy; worthwhile things never are. But whether it was the length of her wings, the strength of her muscles, the keenness of her eyes, or the brightness of her mind, she was excellent at flying.
And as Corbeau had also promised, she grew into beauty. Oh, such beauty as is only seen once in a lifetime. Her feathers were rich and lustrous, her wings strong and long and shapely, her beak black like polished ebony, and her claws were both powerful and graceful (if such a thing may be said of claws).
But Pavo, fueling the bitterness in her heart with envy of the lady Raven, continued to strike at her. She would batter the Raven with her wings, beat her with cruel words, and attempt to poison Corbeau with spite. He was immune to the poison, but strove to encourage the Raven to fly and grow.
By this time, birds from afar had heard of the Raven's beauty and skill. Invited to the courts of noble birds far away, the lady Raven thought that she might find a place to escape the pain of her adoptive home nest. And she did.
While far away she felt, for the first time, the freedom that is natural to most birds. She reveled in exploring what the world outside her home nest had to offer. Many birds, large, small, rich, poor, came to see her fly. She made friends with many of them, and would visit with them for hours after her flights. Some she visited for a night, others for weeks. Some became friends, others became lovers. Her world was now so much bigger than her little home nest.
But her happiness away from home was not to last, sadly. Pavo, even more jealous of the lady Raven, conspired to turn what was a wonderful gift and opportunity to ashes. Shamed, and made to break her word, Pavo forced Raven to return home.
Seeing Corbeau made the lady Raven happy, but being forced to once again live with Pavo made her sad, and angry. So angry, she swore not to fly in public again. This was the beginning of a long and painful time for the lady Raven. She began to visit dark places, spend time with dark and dangerous birds, and think dark thoughts.
She wondered, was Pavo right? Was she no good? Did she not deserve good and noble things? Should she have died when first she and her long lost brother were kicked out of the nest?
It was during this time that the first walls went up. The lady Raven found a tree that suited her moods of the time. It was gnarled and twisted, lightning blasted, dead to all appearances. Often she would roost there, feeling the dry harsh bark beneath her claws, and match her mood to the clouds, or the scorched earth, or the twisted branches. There she built a small house into which she could retreat.
This went on for some time. Despite her darkness, and Pavo's pleasure at bringing her to ground, Corbeau continued to believe in the lady Raven. He sought wise birds to advise him, and to teach the lady Raven. And it was through that teaching that she began to move away from the darkness.
For while flying as a living, dancing aerobatically for adoring crowds, was no longer the path for the lady Raven, her feathers were still lustrous, and her beak still shone like polished ebony, and her claws (yes, I know) still graceful. Ah, and her mind, it still was bright like a jewel. And the love of Corbeau, and the teachings of the wise birds helped polish that jewel.
Know this about jewels: when you see them in nature they are rough, unpolished, without the sparkle you may be used to seeing in pictures. But, inside that rough exterior, lies what will come to shine and twinkle in the light. It is the process of cutting and shaping, honing and setting the gem that makes it into the final object of admiration and beauty.
The lady Raven had inside of her a raw gem whose beauty outshone even her physical beauty.
While she hid that in darkness because of the fear and pain of Pavo, and wild actions she regretted, it never left her.
Years passed, and the lady Raven lived a new life. This life had learning, it had pain, it had beauty, and it had ugliness. Lady Raven now lived in her small house near the blasted tree. She began to find ways to care for herself as she cared for others. And she found birds that she could love, and live with.
For awhile she lived with a beautiful Peacock. He was a true sight to behold. Feathers like liquid emeralds, vivid eyes on his tail, strong voice calling out. The lady Raven was deeply in love with him. They would spend the days strutting about, being admired for their beauty. He made her happy, but there was something in him that wasn't happy with her. His looks, his beauty, were so important to him, it left little room in his heart. He would forever go on about his looks, and whenever the lady Raven wanted to talk about something else, he would steer the conversation back to him. Eventually, despite the pain it caused her, the lady Raven left the Peacock.
She went to her tree, and decided to build the walls of her little house out of stone, to make them stronger.
After some time, she met another bird, but this one was not vain like the Peacock. He was an Eagle, proud and strong. She fell in love with him, and he with her. She saw in him a powerful bird who could be a peer. They would soar for long periods, both with their sharp eyes watching the world below. She was happy, but this love too was not to last. The Eagle remained proud, proud to the point of aloofness, full of his sense of power. He would remind her that he was the symbol of power for many, and that meant he was important. While she agreed, sometimes she just wanted the bird she loved to be just for her. Eventually she left the Eagle.
She went to her tree, and decided that she would plant a hedge, to provide her privacy.
Later still, she met a wondrous bright Magpie. He was so quick witted, loved to chatter, and they shared a love of bright and shiny objects. They would flit about, see things, and take them to marvel over. Her life was so exciting with the magpie, and she loved how alive he made her feel. But as much as she loved him, he loved finding and taking the objects he saw, despite the cost. Many birds resented him, and began to resent her for being with him. She knew she could stand by a bird she loved, but began to feel the pain they both were causing. When she stopped, he wouldn't or couldn't. Again, she left a bird she loved behind to be true to herself.
She went to her tree, and decided that she would build iron fences, to prevent strangers from entering.
Years passed, and the lady Raven had met and loved other birds. She loved an Owl, so wise, so full of learning, her kindled in her passion for learning all over. They would speak of many things, long into the night. The gem of her mind grew facets, if you can believe that, from what he taught her. But that did not last, as he always felt his was the greater intellect, and looked down on her. Saddened, she left the Owl.
She went to her tree, and decided she would make her walls taller, behind which she could keep her own counsel.
Once, she met and fell in love with a Phoenix. He was a miracle to behold, passionate, fiery, and filled with magic. But as all Phoenix must, he burned out, and left her behind.
She went to her tree, and decided that her home was now her castle, and made it truly so.
One of her lovers had given her a glorious gift, a child. She cared for her egg with a passion she had once reserved for flying. And once he was born, her baby raven showed her a side of love she had never imagined could exist. Safe behind the walls, fences, and hedges of her tree she raised him. With him she shared her love of flight, her love of learning, and her love of life. Because despite all the pain, all the hurts, she still loved life.
The birds that she had loved all were part of her, even if they were no longer with her. Her long lost brother, loving Corbeau, even jealous Pavo were part of her. For she had learned through the years, and even behind her castle walls, that love was what had been with her all along. While individual loves might come and go, the act of love, the risk of love, even the pain of love were real and worthy.
Her son was love given physical form and brought into the world for her to see. And she knew that her castle held that treasure, and many others, safe for her to enjoy.
One day, after her son was grown, and after she had done many excellent things, and tried to spread her love of life into the world, she was roosting on a wall of her castle. As she looked out she saw a sight she hadn't seen in years. There was another Raven, flying among the trees.
She watched him, and marveled at his flying. It reminded her of her flying. So, leaving the safety of her castle she flew out to meet him. He was taken aback that such a beautiful lady Raven would speak with him, but he was bright, and quickly warmed to her. She in turn was excited to find a bird who seemed to be similar to her.
They found they both enjoyed the flight of wings, the flight of words, and the flight of emotions.They shared stories of their lives, and found in so doing, that they both loved their lives, bumps and warts and scars and all. Before she knew it, she invited the Raven to sit on her tree and share stories. She had invited this Raven past the hedgerows, past the iron fences, into the stone walls. Between stories they would fly, tumbling and diving. When they saw something new, or exciting they would cry to each other to "look, look, do you see?"
After some time of this, the lady Raven noticed something she thought she would never see. Her tree, her blasted tree, was budding. A small, furled bud was making its way out of the largest branch, and green had somehow returned to her tree.
She looked intently at the bud, and wondered, "what will this grow to become?"
What indeed.
When she was very little, just out of her shell, a hatchling, she and her brother were pushed out of the nest. A kindly old bird named Corbeau found them and brought them into his nest. He patiently tended their wounds.
As the little Raven mended, she watched the other birds nearby. Entranced by their flight, she asked Corbeau, "will I fly one day?"
Corbeau smiled, patted her with his wings, and said "mon petite, you will fly like no other. Birds will come from afar just to watch you soar and tumble. And your lustrous plumage will make them fall in love with you."
This made the lady Raven happy.
Sadly, the kindly Corbeau was married to an unkind bird, Pavo, who was jealous of the lady Raven. Pavo could not stand having the two little ravens in her nest, but was only able to get Corbeau to give the brother to another nest. She never saw her brother again.
A bright bird, healing from her wounds, she began to fly once her wings were strong enough. And as her beloved Corbeau had promised, she was magnificent. Driven by a fierce determination, and despite the envious and spiteful words of Pavo, the little Raven excelled.
When she was in the air, it was if she was transported away from the pain of her past. Learning to fly was not easy; worthwhile things never are. But whether it was the length of her wings, the strength of her muscles, the keenness of her eyes, or the brightness of her mind, she was excellent at flying.
And as Corbeau had also promised, she grew into beauty. Oh, such beauty as is only seen once in a lifetime. Her feathers were rich and lustrous, her wings strong and long and shapely, her beak black like polished ebony, and her claws were both powerful and graceful (if such a thing may be said of claws).
But Pavo, fueling the bitterness in her heart with envy of the lady Raven, continued to strike at her. She would batter the Raven with her wings, beat her with cruel words, and attempt to poison Corbeau with spite. He was immune to the poison, but strove to encourage the Raven to fly and grow.
By this time, birds from afar had heard of the Raven's beauty and skill. Invited to the courts of noble birds far away, the lady Raven thought that she might find a place to escape the pain of her adoptive home nest. And she did.
While far away she felt, for the first time, the freedom that is natural to most birds. She reveled in exploring what the world outside her home nest had to offer. Many birds, large, small, rich, poor, came to see her fly. She made friends with many of them, and would visit with them for hours after her flights. Some she visited for a night, others for weeks. Some became friends, others became lovers. Her world was now so much bigger than her little home nest.
But her happiness away from home was not to last, sadly. Pavo, even more jealous of the lady Raven, conspired to turn what was a wonderful gift and opportunity to ashes. Shamed, and made to break her word, Pavo forced Raven to return home.
Seeing Corbeau made the lady Raven happy, but being forced to once again live with Pavo made her sad, and angry. So angry, she swore not to fly in public again. This was the beginning of a long and painful time for the lady Raven. She began to visit dark places, spend time with dark and dangerous birds, and think dark thoughts.
She wondered, was Pavo right? Was she no good? Did she not deserve good and noble things? Should she have died when first she and her long lost brother were kicked out of the nest?
It was during this time that the first walls went up. The lady Raven found a tree that suited her moods of the time. It was gnarled and twisted, lightning blasted, dead to all appearances. Often she would roost there, feeling the dry harsh bark beneath her claws, and match her mood to the clouds, or the scorched earth, or the twisted branches. There she built a small house into which she could retreat.
This went on for some time. Despite her darkness, and Pavo's pleasure at bringing her to ground, Corbeau continued to believe in the lady Raven. He sought wise birds to advise him, and to teach the lady Raven. And it was through that teaching that she began to move away from the darkness.
For while flying as a living, dancing aerobatically for adoring crowds, was no longer the path for the lady Raven, her feathers were still lustrous, and her beak still shone like polished ebony, and her claws (yes, I know) still graceful. Ah, and her mind, it still was bright like a jewel. And the love of Corbeau, and the teachings of the wise birds helped polish that jewel.
Know this about jewels: when you see them in nature they are rough, unpolished, without the sparkle you may be used to seeing in pictures. But, inside that rough exterior, lies what will come to shine and twinkle in the light. It is the process of cutting and shaping, honing and setting the gem that makes it into the final object of admiration and beauty.
The lady Raven had inside of her a raw gem whose beauty outshone even her physical beauty.
While she hid that in darkness because of the fear and pain of Pavo, and wild actions she regretted, it never left her.
Years passed, and the lady Raven lived a new life. This life had learning, it had pain, it had beauty, and it had ugliness. Lady Raven now lived in her small house near the blasted tree. She began to find ways to care for herself as she cared for others. And she found birds that she could love, and live with.
For awhile she lived with a beautiful Peacock. He was a true sight to behold. Feathers like liquid emeralds, vivid eyes on his tail, strong voice calling out. The lady Raven was deeply in love with him. They would spend the days strutting about, being admired for their beauty. He made her happy, but there was something in him that wasn't happy with her. His looks, his beauty, were so important to him, it left little room in his heart. He would forever go on about his looks, and whenever the lady Raven wanted to talk about something else, he would steer the conversation back to him. Eventually, despite the pain it caused her, the lady Raven left the Peacock.
She went to her tree, and decided to build the walls of her little house out of stone, to make them stronger.
After some time, she met another bird, but this one was not vain like the Peacock. He was an Eagle, proud and strong. She fell in love with him, and he with her. She saw in him a powerful bird who could be a peer. They would soar for long periods, both with their sharp eyes watching the world below. She was happy, but this love too was not to last. The Eagle remained proud, proud to the point of aloofness, full of his sense of power. He would remind her that he was the symbol of power for many, and that meant he was important. While she agreed, sometimes she just wanted the bird she loved to be just for her. Eventually she left the Eagle.
She went to her tree, and decided that she would plant a hedge, to provide her privacy.
Later still, she met a wondrous bright Magpie. He was so quick witted, loved to chatter, and they shared a love of bright and shiny objects. They would flit about, see things, and take them to marvel over. Her life was so exciting with the magpie, and she loved how alive he made her feel. But as much as she loved him, he loved finding and taking the objects he saw, despite the cost. Many birds resented him, and began to resent her for being with him. She knew she could stand by a bird she loved, but began to feel the pain they both were causing. When she stopped, he wouldn't or couldn't. Again, she left a bird she loved behind to be true to herself.
She went to her tree, and decided that she would build iron fences, to prevent strangers from entering.
Years passed, and the lady Raven had met and loved other birds. She loved an Owl, so wise, so full of learning, her kindled in her passion for learning all over. They would speak of many things, long into the night. The gem of her mind grew facets, if you can believe that, from what he taught her. But that did not last, as he always felt his was the greater intellect, and looked down on her. Saddened, she left the Owl.
She went to her tree, and decided she would make her walls taller, behind which she could keep her own counsel.
Once, she met and fell in love with a Phoenix. He was a miracle to behold, passionate, fiery, and filled with magic. But as all Phoenix must, he burned out, and left her behind.
She went to her tree, and decided that her home was now her castle, and made it truly so.
One of her lovers had given her a glorious gift, a child. She cared for her egg with a passion she had once reserved for flying. And once he was born, her baby raven showed her a side of love she had never imagined could exist. Safe behind the walls, fences, and hedges of her tree she raised him. With him she shared her love of flight, her love of learning, and her love of life. Because despite all the pain, all the hurts, she still loved life.
The birds that she had loved all were part of her, even if they were no longer with her. Her long lost brother, loving Corbeau, even jealous Pavo were part of her. For she had learned through the years, and even behind her castle walls, that love was what had been with her all along. While individual loves might come and go, the act of love, the risk of love, even the pain of love were real and worthy.
Her son was love given physical form and brought into the world for her to see. And she knew that her castle held that treasure, and many others, safe for her to enjoy.
One day, after her son was grown, and after she had done many excellent things, and tried to spread her love of life into the world, she was roosting on a wall of her castle. As she looked out she saw a sight she hadn't seen in years. There was another Raven, flying among the trees.
She watched him, and marveled at his flying. It reminded her of her flying. So, leaving the safety of her castle she flew out to meet him. He was taken aback that such a beautiful lady Raven would speak with him, but he was bright, and quickly warmed to her. She in turn was excited to find a bird who seemed to be similar to her.
They found they both enjoyed the flight of wings, the flight of words, and the flight of emotions.They shared stories of their lives, and found in so doing, that they both loved their lives, bumps and warts and scars and all. Before she knew it, she invited the Raven to sit on her tree and share stories. She had invited this Raven past the hedgerows, past the iron fences, into the stone walls. Between stories they would fly, tumbling and diving. When they saw something new, or exciting they would cry to each other to "look, look, do you see?"
After some time of this, the lady Raven noticed something she thought she would never see. Her tree, her blasted tree, was budding. A small, furled bud was making its way out of the largest branch, and green had somehow returned to her tree.
She looked intently at the bud, and wondered, "what will this grow to become?"
What indeed.
