Maggie
June 20th, 2005, 01:43 AM
The day had been warm and sunny, the breeze dancing lightly among the leaves of the forest. The sun had seemed to stand still in the sky that day, the longest day. But as it must always do it began to slide down the sky to end that longest day, its rays slanting now through the trees as it lingered here and there. By ones and twos or threes, people began to enter a clearing still touched by that last light of the sun. In times past they had laughed as they met here, sang together as they shared a dinner. Tonight they were quiet; one of their number was gone and their voices were muted by sorrow as they gathered together to remember.
As the last light failed, one of their number kindled a fire in the center. With the flames rose the wail of a single pipe. The pipes can laugh, they can dance, they can incite to war--but tonight they cried and carried tears skyward with their haunting lament. Those gathered there were silent as the notes drifted through the air, thinking of the one who was gone and mourning their loss with the music.
A woman stepped forward once the pipes fell silent, pacing around the dancing flames as she regarded those gathered there. "The stones of the earth support us all. They stand silently through the ages, listening--and remembering. Borrow the strength of the Land, let Her bones support us as we remember."
A man spoke then, staring into the flames. "The seas are the life blood of the earth, their waters running from sky to earth to sea and back again. Borrow the strength of the seas, share their salty tears as we remember."
And yet another rose, to stand in the firelight. "The sky holds the winds, the breath of of the earth. It will wail our pain for us in the storms but it will also caress our faces as as we remember his life. Let the wind carry our memories for us, whispering to those who can hear, and reminding us that as long as we remember he has not left us."
And then, by ones and twos and threes, they began to share their memories, their stories of the one who was gone. Smiles came with some of the stories, and soft laughs. A gentle breeze rose, setting the leaves of the trees over their heads rustling softly even as more and more began to share their memories of their friend.
A life well lived always has laughs--and remembering the happiness does perhaps sharpen the pain now but the happiness is what should be remembered. We mourn the loss but without that presence and that happiness there would be no reason to remember. Celebrate what he gave, what he meant to others, and what he loved in turn.
Maggie
As the last light failed, one of their number kindled a fire in the center. With the flames rose the wail of a single pipe. The pipes can laugh, they can dance, they can incite to war--but tonight they cried and carried tears skyward with their haunting lament. Those gathered there were silent as the notes drifted through the air, thinking of the one who was gone and mourning their loss with the music.
A woman stepped forward once the pipes fell silent, pacing around the dancing flames as she regarded those gathered there. "The stones of the earth support us all. They stand silently through the ages, listening--and remembering. Borrow the strength of the Land, let Her bones support us as we remember."
A man spoke then, staring into the flames. "The seas are the life blood of the earth, their waters running from sky to earth to sea and back again. Borrow the strength of the seas, share their salty tears as we remember."
And yet another rose, to stand in the firelight. "The sky holds the winds, the breath of of the earth. It will wail our pain for us in the storms but it will also caress our faces as as we remember his life. Let the wind carry our memories for us, whispering to those who can hear, and reminding us that as long as we remember he has not left us."
And then, by ones and twos and threes, they began to share their memories, their stories of the one who was gone. Smiles came with some of the stories, and soft laughs. A gentle breeze rose, setting the leaves of the trees over their heads rustling softly even as more and more began to share their memories of their friend.
A life well lived always has laughs--and remembering the happiness does perhaps sharpen the pain now but the happiness is what should be remembered. We mourn the loss but without that presence and that happiness there would be no reason to remember. Celebrate what he gave, what he meant to others, and what he loved in turn.
Maggie