A fairy, Christine, lost her wings on top of a hill overlooking the glen while watching the orange sky accept the setting sun. She did not think she was so old. She picked up her wings sighing “Oh!” and stumbled down to the glen on foot aided by moonlight. The other fairies greeted her with relieved laughter since she was gone so long and then tears when they saw her wings. Her transformation had begun.
Sylvia came to wish her farewell. She told Christine about the completed transformation of her fairy-child that morning. She cried and Christine comforted her.
Samuel came to wish her farewell. He told Christine about the completed transformation of his fairy-wife that morning. He cried and Christine comforted him.
Rose, another fairy, a teenage one, came to wish her aunt farewell. Her father told her she had to. She looked into Christine’s eyes. “Look deeper,” Christine suggested. To her surprise Rose saw her own eyes gazing back at her. She cried and Christine comforted her.
A fairy without wings can remain only so long. Christine regretted not doing whatever it was she was meant to do but did not have the imagination or the will to realize. “May I look into your eyes?” Rose wiped away the tears. When Christine looked, they both smiled.
Linked to Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt.
Photo provided by Sue Vincent for this prompt.
The chain of inspiration comes from Jane Dougherty’s challenge to write folk tales based on Jeren Nazuto’s poem responding to Jilly’s poem based on Jim Harrison’s “fragile wings”.
I think she did what she had always been doing without realising it—comforting. Sweet and sad story, Frank. Thanks for joining the game 🙂
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Thanks for creating the challenge! Based on how she consoled Sylvia, Samuel and Rose she did everything she was meant to do.
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That was my thought too 🙂
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A bitter sweet story Frank. Well done.
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Thank you, Peter! I am glad you liked it!
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A very lovely and well written but story but also sad at the same time. I’m wondering if losing her wings means she becomes human? Or if she is going to pass on in death? I think the latter but somehow I’d like to think there’s a new life and new adventures ahead for this fairy.
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I left it vague as “transformation”. As I see it she continues with a new life and new adventures. Thank you for the comment!
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This is a beautiful one, frank. Your style add something delightful to the whole thing and keep it light. Thanks for joining, it’s more fun with everyone!
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It is a nice challenge. I am glad you liked this, Jeren!
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Reblogged this on itsallaboutnothingg and commented:
Frank spun a beautiful and bitter-sweet tale on the wings phenomenon!
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That was fantastic. Thank you for sharing it.
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Thank you, Patrick!
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I love this Frank. It is so sweet.
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Thank you, Robbie! I am glad you liked it.
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I think I read it more as the ‘sweet’ than the ‘bitter,’ Frank. Really enjoyed reading this! Also, I admire how well you have kept track of the trail of crumbs as one idea begets another and then there is a snowball.
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It is an interesting trail and it leads back to Jim Harrison. Thanks for introducing him!
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My pleasure,
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I think it’s a bit sad, or maybe that is where I am at!
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It is sad, but the sadness is filtered through how one looks at the major transformations in one’s life. Thanks, Mary!
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This was really charming
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Thank you!
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Very poignant…I see it as a metamorphosis…
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That would probably be a better word for it. Thanks, Alison!
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Lovely tale… 😇😇
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Thank you!
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Lovely, Frank.
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Thank you!
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Poignant and lovely, Frank …especially her failure to realise her purpose, even though the love she was giving as comfort seems purpose enough…
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Yes. That comfort is purpose enough. Sometimes people don’t realize they have already accomplished their purpose in abundance. Thanks, Sue!
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Is it portraying the sense of instinctual, Or was it refined?
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I don’t know. Instinct should not assume determinism which I don’t think exists except in our mathematical models of reality. There are choices involved with how our biological constraints manifest themselves. I am not sure what “refined” means, but thank you for your comment!
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Refined, as in pre determined. But thanks for clearing that up.
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Beautifully penned.
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Thank you!
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Beautiful 💜
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Thank you!
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🌹
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SMiLes.. SorRow
OVeR AngEL
WinGs
FaiL
CatcH
WiND WaTeR
RiseS OceaN
SMiLe eYes
NeVeR SeeinG BlUe SKeYes
DreAM WeAVEs FLiGhT..:)
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Thank you, Fred! There is sorrow in the story.
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Thanks Frank
As AlWays
dArK
Teaches
LiGHT too..:)
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Jumped over to read from Sue’s blog. Transformation – a butterfly gets it’s wings, a fairy loses hers. And yet she comforts others, as it seems she has always done. Surely there is more “beyond” for this aging fairy – and for each of us as well. Lovely story.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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I agree. There is more beyond for all of us. Thanks, Madelyn!
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My pleasure.
xx, mgh
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The ambiguity is food for thought. “What you were meant to do” can be a prison imposed by others…maybe now she is free to find her own way. (K)
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She might be unsure herself, but based on the comforting she provided others I doubt there is anything she left undone that she was meant to do. Thank you!
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I think you are right.
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