Flowers Set on Tables: Chapter Three (of 4)A Story by Paris Hlad-CHAPTER 3-
So, I came down from the mountain,
And I saw that the multitude No longer moved like a great herd, Pressing hard, one against the other.
For the many had come to a resting place In the green foothills below the mountains.
And now, they conversed in brotherhood.
But I saw that a rare thing of great value Had been left in the open, unattended;
And that some had moved close to it, Admiring its beauty, and longing To take it unto themselves.
So, fearing the intentions of those who drew near it, I secured that item and spoke to the multitude, Saying, ‘If this item is your item, then say so,
But if it is not yours, do not say that it is, For then, this item will lose its value
And become a curse and not a blessing.’
And for a long while, no one spoke or moved, As no one could say that the item was his - And those who only desired it, Saw risk in claiming it
Since many eyes would witness
Their dishonesty.
So, I continued to stand before the multitude, Holding the item above me so that the many Could behold it and admire its rare beauty.
But as the hours passed, I grew weary of holding it, And angry with those who envied the hand that held it,
Even though the item Did not belong to the hand That held it and showed it.
And I began to fear that its owner would not claim it, And that by default, the item would become mine.
So, I spoke again unto the multitude, saying, ‘Do not be ashamed of losing precious things But triumphant about finding what was lost.
And then, a grieving woman Arose among the many,
And in her tears of shame, she saved me.
For the item was hers And she had been dreaming,
Unaware that her treasure had been lost, And that a stranger had discovered it And secured it on her behalf.
And she embraced me In thankfulness and love,
As I embraced her in love And greater thankfulness.[1]
But now, those who still coveted the item Gathered together and began to whisper,
Sometimes lifting their narrow chins And glancing at us suspiciously.
Then, one of them rose And pointed his finger
Directly at me, and saying,
“This is the man who did not fear our shoulders, The one who caused us to stumble upon him, And admonished us with his steely gaze.”
And another said, “No, this is the watcher Who declined his turn on the great trebuchet And dismissed our ambitions as ludicrous.”
And yet another who was among them said, “Indeed, he is both of these men - and more!
For now, he is a thief Who gives our treasure To a grieving woman.”
And their whispers turned to chatter, And their chatter to a cacophony Of calumny and threats.
And this caused the multitude To abandon the hope of brotherhood And to argue among themselves �" Many saying that the covetous Were right to chastise me
But some saying,
“No, the covetous are full of evil and slander; For we have seen with our own eyes How they drew near a treasure That could never be theirs,
And how this man secured that treasure On the woman’s behalf, even fearing That the item he held would Become his by default.”
But now the grieving woman Turned to address the covetous.
And her eyes fell upon them in judgment, Though her voice murmured like a brook In a calm meadow of melting snow:
“What you covet, condemns you to vanity,[2] And vanity condemns you to fear �" And fear to all manner of evil.
You walk like a herd on a beaten path, Trampling all things that are before you.
You immodestly fling yourselves to the heavens, Knowing the heavens will remain forever above you, And that their blessings will remain forever beyond you.”
And now, you slander the good Because you cannot possess the good But can only hiss like serpents at the good.”
Then, a villain who had been silent, And who was nowise other than a goat, Unsheathed his sword and raised it high above The woman who had regained what she had lost; But she neither feared his blade nor his goat eyes. For that which is Eternal mocks what is momentary. © 2023 Paris Hlad |
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Added on May 14, 2023 Last Updated on May 14, 2023 AuthorParis HladSouthport, NC, United States Minor Outlying IslandsAboutI am a 70-year-old retired New York state high school English teacher, living in Southport, NC. more..Writing
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