A Tale of Two Geese

A narrative poem in the form of a modern fable.

A lad had one day climbed the fence and walked into a wood there to find a goose. It was a plain and ordinary looking fowl. But the more he spent time with it, the more he found it to be special. This goose had at certain moments in a month laid a golden egg which it allowed the lad to take home with him.

For as long as the goose stayed close to its home, it would be happy and healthy and lay golden eggs. One day, the lad thought to take the goose home and very quickly the goose became sad and weak. Gradually the goose lost its ability to lay golden eggs. And the lad became distressed and didn't know what to do.

He called to his brother who had known a bit about the goose; all that he could do to help was to try to make things the way they used to be. He accompanied his brother to the wood to bring back the ailing goose. Meanwhile, a wild tempest blew and they lost sight of each other. The lad could not be found and the goose never laid another golden egg. His brother was sad and decided to set camp near the home of the goose.

Each day the boy came to visit the goose's home. And when he could, at other times, he was able to sleep over and spend more time outdoors. One day a goose that had grown a golden feather appeared in the wood, and at certain times it allowed the boy to take a golden feather home. This gave him some consolation even while he still blamed himself for his brother's loss. One day he brought the goose home to show his family but then it would not grow golden feathers and started to grow weak and feeble.

The boy took the fading goose and threw it over the fence into the wood. Upset, he ran to his room and opened his study drawer from which he pulled out a golden feather and a golden egg to remind him of better days. He then packed them away in a box and hid them in the cellar. He concentrated on his studies and lived a normal life as much as he could. As a young man the fantasy had dimmed in memory but the reality of the geese would remain hidden away in a box.

Each time he felt unsure or sad or lonely, he would walk down to the cellar and open up the box to look at the golden egg and the golden feather. But he put them quickly away because that life was no longer his. And when he did walk the wood he thought he sometimes caught a glimpse of the goose. But part of him did not want to see it ever again, even if it was the last connection he had with his brother, who never returned home, lost in the storm.

And now that his childhood had been brusquely taken away by a fairy tale; his grown up slumber would be forever graced by geese-filled dreams.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Ken e Bujold]

A grand little fairy tale of a story Freds. One to thrill many a heart I believe. In reality, the only thing geese bring me is nightmares. The big black and white honkers we call our national bird are among the most foul tempered mean eyed maniacs on the planet.
Still I enjoyed stopping by as always
ken

[Red Brick Keshner]

Hey Ken! The only reason the cranky goose was chosen was to link it to the familiar goose that laid a golden egg story to give the readers a handle through prior cognition. Laying golden eggs are far fetched enough without making it more strange and alien, lol. Thanks for dropping by and apologies for the nightmares. Methinks geese are best enjoyed from a distance! /Freds.

[Robert Haigh]

The title reminded me of a visit to Fleetwood in Lancashire, a few weeks ago. There, on the promenade path were two large white geese! They looked harmless enough, but if anyone went near them they became angry and would not let people go past. People wishing to pass had to leave the pavement and walk on the grass! Geese can indeed be aggressive. This has nothing to do with your fantasy tale, but I was reminded of this incident!

Your tale is quite charming. I see a moral there too: If we try to manipulate things to our own advantage they can have disastrous results! Greed and self-serving actions often have consequences!

[Red Brick Keshner]

Thanks Robert! Yes. I also had a personal encounter with some swans that were also quite aggressive as it was their youngling season. So glad you touched on the morality tale aspect of this story. Much obliged. Freds.

[Dave Brown]

i just noticed them in v-formation the other day and I assume they are heading your way
Perhaps there is a bit of gold still available
and a beautiful painting, goose or no goose

[Red Brick Keshner]

Oh boy! Can't hardly wait!

[Donald Meikle]

Glad I took a gander

[Red Brick Keshner]

Haha! That is so true.