Monday, December 2, 2013

Why we dream





"Why do we dream?" asked the blue butterfly girl, looking around the circle of animals she had invited to her tea party by the garden gate.
    "You dream so we can always be together," said Bear, without hesitation. "You dream so you will always have a friend. "
    "You dream so you can see," said Hawk. His golden eyes flashed.
    "You dream so you can learn to be brave like me," said Lion.
    "Nonsense," said Mr. Fox. "You dream so you can tell stories about me."
    "Grandfather," the girl looked into the tea water. "Why do we dream?"
    Grandfather Teller's voice bubbled like a pot about to boil. "You dream because humans are the animals that tell stories about all the others."

8 comments:

  1. Very sweet story Robert. I know a blue butterfly girl living within a woman who can "command the winds" with her violin. I hope to go visit and play with her one day. I know she will teach me a thing or two.

    Patty

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  3. Why do I dream? I feel like I'm dreaming all the time, like I'm living in parallel worlds that are trying to inform each other. My soul is a blue butterfly that moves between worlds,mute communicator of themes, anxieties, possibilities. This story's charm is all on the surface; underneath,the bear has teeth.

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  4. Patty - Your note is already poetry.

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  5. Nina - I like your suggestion that "we dream so that the impossible can become possible." An excellent reason for dreaming.

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  6. Sandy - Indeed, the bear has teeth and claws. That's why the child inside us feels safe with Bear as protector.

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  7. Maybe the blue butterfly girl living within the woman will learn how to command the winds with a harp this year? Wouldn't it be something to sit with her under a tree and let that magic of her music lighten me.

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