This is a Fairy Tale Prompt – Mind Love Misery’s Menagerie

for a while
confined behind the waterfall
summer’s start

© Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

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A fairy tale

by Tournesol’2015

The thunder of the waterfall echoed in the distance.  Cher looked up at the sky and noticed dark rain clouds. She would have to hurry home soon if she didn’t want to get drenched but first she was curious. She walked all the way here for an hour from the other side of the village.  She heard there was a path towards a secret garden. Her great-grandmother told her about it just before she died. “Cher, go to the garden luv, you must not miss this last chance to meet true joy.”  She thought her grandmother was in her moments of dementia when she said that but still…what if?

Cher was near the falls now and the booming sound of tons of water falling was impressive and a bit daunting. Should she continue, she thought to herself peaking in the little opening between the two plum trees…and then she saw…

wild flowers
competing for attention
bursting in colours

There were mini gardens within the largest most spectacular garden she had ever seen.  Daisies, buttercups, marigolds, lilies, sunflowers and so much more.  At the centre of the garden was a cherry tree and the fragrance from the blossoms were so tantalizing. There was a section beneath the tree that looked like a velvet emerald carpet it was surreal…too perfect to be grass…and yet it was with tiny clovers interspersed and part of this exquisite verdure.   She sat beneath the tree, picking at clover leaves and tasting their sweetness.  She lay on her back for a moment admiring the clear blue sky …funny how the clouds disappeared here, she thought.  The scented cherry blossoms seemed to have a hypnotic effect on her…she closed her eyes, “Just for a few minutes, I am so tired”…not realizing she was actually sleeping on a bed of poppies.  They were so minuscule and not visible to the naked human eye.

soothing relief
entranced on a bed
of poppies

She was bathing in bubbling hot springs and suddenly soft laughter of what appeared to be children, woke her up from this wonderful dream. She looked around and saw little people the size of her thumb dressed in glitzy costumes of gold, silver and her favourite  of all…azure blues.   They giggled louder when they saw her raiser an eyebrow.  A chipmunk sounding voice shouted, “Come along, let’s set the tea and sweets.  The human is awake…quickly now!!”

It took ten little people to push a porcelain floral cup and saucer towards Cher.  When she realized the tea was for her, she reached out and picked it up saving them another two “human” feet would have taken another five minutes for them.  The tea was sweet like honey and fragrant like cerise noir.   She felt like a queen being served by these tiny people. Could they actually be fairies, she thought. She must be dreaming.

 
honourable guest
visiting the Cherry garden
Way of Tea

She heard a melody that seemed familiar as she put her cup down.  Over by the daisies, on an elevated grassy turf, a  beautiful petite woman with a white silk gown sang like an angel. She must be an angel, Cher thought, Oh, my I can’t seem to get out of this dream. Gosh! I don’t want to get out of this dream!

voix mielleuse
refrain d’amour et longue vie
transpire doucement
~
honey tones
refrain of love and long life
gently trickle

Closing her eyes, she let that sweet voice wrap her in a spiritual wellness.  Each note lightened her heart, made her feel refreshed… reborn.  

bathed in
pure positive energy
born again
~
born again
 releasing her grip
softening chi

*Tetsuya  says that holding on to the bow too tightly too long only weakens the bow.  I must know when it is time to soften my grip.  This garden is one way to be in the moment and float on a bed of poppies…drift away from worries, work.  Here I am me, beautiful and perfect in all my imperfections.

Cher left the garden feeling refreshed and revitalized; she reminded herself to come back more often and not wait until the clouds turned dark and heavy…regular visits here would be a mindful choice.

© Tournesol ’15

 

Hayley Westenra – May It Be

Lyrics
“May It Be”

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornië utúlië ([Quenya:] Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië ([Quenya:] Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadow’s call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornië utúlië ([Quenya:] Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way

Mornië alantië ([Quenya:] Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now

Carpe Diem Shuukan – Revitalize

Fairy Tale Prompt – Mind Love Misery’s Menagerie