(this is a continuation of the Logos epic that I started last week, although the story itself is one that is part of Africa folktale. I wish I could remember which tribe it originated with. We had a story book of this tale growing up)
When I first saw you my dear
your eyes shown green flame
yet and yet
Let us start at the beginning
yes, yes, yes
Once there was a great king
Once there was a rich farmer
The King was lonely, in need of a wife
and the farmer had two daughters
two Beautiful Daughters he had
And the farmer boasted greatly
so greatly as to call them the most beautiful
the most beautiful in all the land
the king wishing a wife
wishing a beautiful wife
decided to see for himself
so in the guise of a old man
he set out to beg at their door
It was a cold night, a bitter night
that brought him out of the wood
a storm was brewing southward
the wind howled as a wolf
the king, knocked at the door
knocked with his wooden staff
The first daughter answered
she was beautiful, pale
her eyes blue grey as fog
her hair yellow like the sun
yet there was a look of discust
at the old beggar before her
"we have nothing for you"
she sneered, a howl of the wind
"Who is it my daughter?"
the farmers voice asked from within
"An old Beggar"
the sneering daughter answered
"Bring him inside"
The daughter frowned
yet she obeyed her father
"come sir, come warm yourself by the fire"
the second daughter sang
a voice like gentle rain
The king hobbled forward
and sat on the stool offered
The second was unlike the first
unlike as two sister could be
Where the first was pale,
the second was bright
where the first has sneered
the second had smiled
Bright flaming green were your eyes that day
bright like two emeralds held in gold
for gold and fire was your hair
orange gold of a bright flame
and your smile was healing
and your hand was gentle
And Yet And yet
let us return to my tale
After spending the night
the king saw beauty
but he was unsure of the hearts
for a queen of his must be of great heart
great heart and great spirit.
So the king became a little snake
and going to the elder
curled up at her feet
awaking with the dawn
the elder screamed in fear
and kicked the little green snake
across the room.
hearing her scream
the younger came running
and finding the little snake
took pitty on it.
against the protests of her sister
gathered the snake up
and took it out to the garden
"You'll have to forgive her
she does not like snakes"
the youngest whispered
as brused snake slithered away.
all that week the king stayed as a snake
when ever the eldest saw him, she ran
yet the youngest sang to him
sang as she worked in the garden
Oh little one, little one
little green snake
guard my garden well
oh little one, little one
you are a blessing
slithering so free
were do you go
when you slither from me?
when the autum came, the little snake vanished
"when you left I went looking for you"
"Shhhh my dear I'm telling a tale"
"well then continue"
The King returned home in the fall
and sent a summons to the farmer
for him to bring his daughters
and he would make one his wife
the most beautiful his wife
So after gathering the harvest
the farmer prepared to set out
but the night before
the eldest wanting to be queen
left
the morning after found her join
the farmer looked high and low
and seeing the way she went
followed with her sister in tow
The journey was three days
the first night the eldest
stumbling through the trees
met a little child
the little one asked for food
the eldest would give him none
The second night the eldest
before a stream she was stopped
by an old laughing women
who asked for a song
in return for the way across
the eldest would not sing
and decided to wade the river alone
The third night the eldest
tired and hungry
came to the capital city
and was told to wait the night
The first night the youngest
stumbling through the trees
met a little child
and gave it a little bread
the child showed her the way
The second night the youngest
before a laughing brook
sung the song of the little snake
and was shown the way across
by means of a hidden bridge
The third night the youngest
reached the capital city
tired and foot sore
she found her sister crying
"Do not go to the king
oh do not go."
Her sister said sobbing
"He is a monster most horrid
with seven heads
oh sister do not go"
the next morning the sister
not heeding her sister
went before the king
and found her little green snake
"Oh little one! what are you doing?"
The youngest rushed forward
"I am the king," the little snake said
"And the child" the little child said
"And the old women" the old women said
"And the Beggar" The old beggar said
"And the king" I said to you
I said to you as I took your hand.
"I remember, we were both young then"
"Yes we were young then"
"Yes we were young"
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