The Artist Made a Slave: There was an artist, who lonely as could be, was taken by his captors. The slave raids came into his home, and took him to their lands. He was made a slave, and was told to tread grapes and make fine wine. He was sad, though, and whipped and scourged. He had no hope, ever, and his Master came to him, and said, "Why are you not happy?" To which the Artist said, "I have no hope, for my mind must create. It is who I am." And so the Master said, "Oh, is that all? Then here are some writing instruments and paper. Make your art on your own time." To which the artist was free again.
The Dog and the Cat: There were two enemies, the Dog and the Cat. Both were vile, unclean beasts, but both thought themselves more pure than the other. Adonai liked to watch this feud, for it was between two imbeciles, both trying to vie for the better beast. Thus, Adonai said this: “Dog, Cat: Thou be too wise for me,” thus Adonai laughed: “I will make you slaves to man, for look upon you. Thou art utterly worthless for any sort of strength. Cat, what do you do? Your meat is unclean, and thou doth nothing but kill God’s creatures. Dog, what do you do? You can shepherd a flock, but given the chance, will eat your own vomit and an entire day’s ration. Thus, you are in subjugation to those whom will love you without a cause, and they will dispute which of you is better, when in truth, neither of you are anything but a burden to the one who owns you; it will be your love that makes you precious in the sight of men, thus is how it will be.”
The Horse and the Mule: There was a Horse and a Mule. The Horse was strong, sleek, and could pull a plow. The Mule, on the other hand, was strong, but not as strong. Thus, the two would make contests, but the Mule, being stubborn, would always boast of being able to outdo anyone but the horse. One day there came a contest in which an Ass came, and wished to take part in the contest. The Mule thought himself haughty and wise, and thought: “I compete with horses. What shall an Ass do by me?” Thus, they took to a pull. The Horse pulled mighty, a measure of twice his weight. The Ass pulled a little less mighty, a measure of one and one half its weight. When it came time for the Mule, he pulled, but could not even out measure the Ass. Thus is how a stubborn Mule truly is.
The Peafowl: There was a bird with all measure of feathers. It felt itself more beautiful than all the other hens on the farmer’s lot. It meandered here, there, strutting its beautiful tail feathers, claiming its feathers would fetch a fortune. Sure enough, they did fetch a fortune. And the Peafowl was ever grateful for its commerce. It made such an enterprise for the Farmer, that the Farmer sold it at market, and there the Peafowl made even more money with its beautiful feathers, thus to the next farmer, he prospered even more. Then, the Peafowl waxed old, and said to himself: “Riches I have accrued for myself, but riches I have not lived for.” Thus, the Peafowl saw his master coming to him, “This man I have made rich, and he has provided for me plenty for my food, so that I have shared in his riches. I can now rest easy, that I am neither slave nor master, but have enriched those whom would have otherwise treated me cruelly without my feathers, and I have shared enough. Look! I even have peeps with my mate of so many yore. I can now die in peace.” Thus, this Peafowl, who was fattened and good for food, did not die such a cruel death, but made other Peafowl who were just as industrious for their farmer.
The Lion and the Lamb: Thus, there came to Joseph a story of a Lion and a Lamb. The Apostle Judas Son of James came to this Joseph, and asked he: May I borrow your stories? For the Greeks have maligned it. Joseph said, “No friend, you may not. You may have my story, and steal it back from the Greeks.” Thus did Judas Son of James do:
There be a story of a wild cat and a lamb in scripture, of the time when Messiah comes and makes peace on the earth. Thus, a Lion does not like killing its prey, nor does a Lamb like being prey. Thus, the two waged war for a long time, with the Lion always getting the better. But, the Lion, secretly, hated his form for he is a noble creature. Thus, he heard of the story found in Isaiah, of the time when child would stick her hand into a cockatrice den, and not be bitten. Thus, the Lion wished to befriend said child: So did he. But, growing hungry, the Lion licked his chops at the child: Thus, a Lamb came and butted the Lion, saying, “Eat me, fair Lion, and not this Daughter of Eve.” So, the Lion ate the Lamb.
Thus is the personality of Lions and Lambs. Men love the Lion, but the LORD loves the Lamb. One day they shall lie down together and be at peace.
The Goat and the Sheep: There was a wise Billy Goat, and a stupid Sheep. The Billy Goat would always flee his shepherd, and would always speak of his knowledge; for he had great knowledge. The Sheep, dull as he was, would give up his wool with no fight. The Goat, on the other hand, liked to follow every shepherd who offered him a slice of pomegranate. The Sheep would simply nuzzle his owner, eat the straw given him, and would produce his wool at no cost. So, one day the Shepherd was hungry, and looked out to his field. There was the Sheep and the Billy Goat. The Shepherd came out, and looked at his beloved Sheep, with his eyes so soft and glowing with the tenderness of love. Then he looked at the Billy Goat, feigning the same. The Shepherd thus said, “I am hungry. One animal must die.” Thus, he took the Goat and skinned him from the anus, cooked his flesh, and must admit, he made a terrible bite of food like tin. Thus, the Shepherd spat out his flesh, and said, “I mustn’t eat the Sheep. He provides me with warm clothing. I must eat from the herbs of the field this season, and produce meat next season with another goat; for a Sheep is too valuable for food, but provides suitable clothing.”
Venus, Mars and Jupiter: These were three children of the Sun and Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Mars. The three, named thus, were told one wisdom: “See these sons of men, Jupiter, Venus and Mars? If thou wish to be good, give not these men any reason to worship you. For, our other children they even worship, including the constellations which Adonai had placed in the heavens to declare his majesty.”
Thus, there came the fourth child, Saturn; A wise child he was, Tyrus’ favorite star. Thus, Saturn spoke to Venus, Mars and Jupiter: “Children of the Sun and Moon, look upon me. The Worship of man is great upon me. Look, they have named me after a Titan.”
Venus, Mars and Jupiter then thought wisely.
“A Titan? What be this?”
Saturn then told them, “Men and their imaginations create gods over gods. Doth thou not wish to be like me? I have the worship of all mankind. I will be over you, and you will be under me, for I am a Titan, and thou wilt be their gods, and I yours.”
Venus then spoke, “Yes.” For she is not a sinner, so bad, but made this one error. Then the sons of men saw her splendor, and gave her dominion over love. Thus there was great mirth, and Venus saw it be splendid that the sons of men did produce offspring because of her.
The Sun and Moon lamented, for they knew the worship of mankind; but nothing could be done, for the men have already named her after love. Thus came Jupiter. He was named after the King of the gods. Thus, the men had banded into civilizations, and set kings over them, and princes under them. This pleased them so much, that Venus and Jupiter spoke villainous things to their brother, Mars, saying “We had invented love and kingdoms on the earth. What doth thou? See, we be Gods, why not thou? ... Look, doth thou not see?”
Thus, Mars shined forth in the sky, and there he stood. The men, seeing his red glow, then raged into a war over who’d get to name him, this king or that. Who’d god would he be? Thus, the slaughter of men lasted two thousand years, where the blood of men flowed into the oceans, the rivers, and the beasts of the field did lament.
Thus, Jupiter and Venus lamented for the idolatry they created. Mars, being the most feeble of all the planets, in their brightness, was even more aghast at what man had done because of idolatry. Thus, the Sun spake to Mars, Venus and Jupiter: “My sons and daughter, see now how you have caused the sons of men to war over vanity? What gain had they to war over your bloody color? Your brother Saturn taught you this evil, did he not? Well, I will make him the least of the stars in heaven. For Saturn taught them the worst evil, which is to have gods other than Adonai.”
Then Saturn boasted, “Yet I move across the firmament. I will never be the least, for my other brethren do no such thing.” Thus, the Sun and Moon lamented even more, for Saturn could not be disciplined, but the other three learned the plight of men with their foolish idols.
The Crow and the Pigeon: There be a Crow and a Pigeon. The Pigeon, being unwise and feeble, thought himself a dove, when in reality he was a Pigeon. He truly believed himself to be holy, and true, and honest; for these were virtues of his. His only honest mistake was thinking he be a Pigeon, though his plume be the color of sunnycloud. Then came the Crow, with his black feathers. He poked at the bird: “Bird, do you not know your own heritage?” The Pigeon spoke, “Yes, I be a dove. Of course I be a dove. Look at my plumes.” The Crow squawked “Doth thou believe that by having white plume, it make you a dove?” The Pigeon said, “Yes, for only a dove can have white plume.” The Crow laughed, and thus went to Adonai. “Adonai,” said the Crow, “This foolish bird think he be a dove. Tell he that he be a Pigeon.” Adonai sighed a breath of ill temper, “Crow, what be it to thee, that this bird think he be a dove? Does this produce good or ill from him?” The Crow said, “But he be a lie unto himself.” Adonai then said, “If he be a lie unto himself, then I will make him a dove.” Then, Adonai changed the Pigeon into a dove, to which the Crow had nothing else he could respond.
Nature: There was an argument among the animals about why nature need be so cruel. To which, there was a swift answer from Adonai: “Because men had been so cruel, and chose to judge all the world without first choosing life.” The animals then agreed that man was the culprit, and thus hoped in the blessing: “A wild cat and kid shall lie down together.” Thus, the Lions were wroth with their lot for having to hunt the Zebra, whom they were previously friends. The Pelicans were wroth that they had to eat the Fish. The Flies were wroth that they were now disgusting, and not venerable creatures. Thus were wroth the Peahens that they would be food for the Alligators. Thus was the Serpent the only one blushing. All the animals looked to him, and spoke, “What has Adonai done to you? Where are your legs from previously?” The Serpent spoke wisely, “Man had cut them off. Of course, you know? For, now nature must be cruel, though we animals are all innocent.” Thus was it spoken of the order, but soon all the animals despised the Serpent more than man. The Cats would jump at his body, the Elephants too. The Bird of Prey would eat him, but it was a fight. The Crocodile would wrestle with the Python in the Nile, and the Zebra would have to be wary in the water brook for fear of the Snake’s venom. Thus, all of animal kind were wroth with the nature of the fallen world: So, men were deceived by Serpents, the animals soon found out. Thus, they had two enemies, yet the man was to be sought for and the Serpent despised.
The Land of the Giants: The earth is a disk, with mountains beneath and hell resides in those caverns. Above it be the stars innumerable, and other tongues, tribes and peoples. Thus, what resides below the earth is the land of Giants and make-believe. Here, the Giants can grow so large, that the pupil of their eye is the size of the entire earth. Adonai commanded them specifically never to interfere with His little earth, for it is so little, and they are so large. Why would they need to bother with it? Thus, for a while, the Giants frolicked to and fro, growing larger, waxing bigger. No weapon of man could harm them, for these in their infancy were the Nephilim. Now they are great, mighty beings dwelling in the perdition below the earth, where not even hell can hold them.
Thus, the giants sparked an interest in the disk called earth, and thus, when man was quite young, one leapt onto the earth, and tried to climb within it.
Adonai then spoke: “Giant, what fool is your race! Why do you harass such little peoples, whom you cannot even see without an instrument upon your eye! I told thee to stay away from them.”
Thus, Adonai made tiny creatures like the men of the Earth, only these had flaming bows, and when the Giants would peep into the world, they would be destroyed by these tiny Seraphim.
This stayed the Giants for a while, but being evil in their heart, they spied out a new way to gain access to the little curiosity they see before them. They shrunk themselves down to the size of a man---for the Giants are a very advanced race---and dwelt among men.
Soon, they became kings, and waxed great, letting themselves be somewhat larger than men, so they could rule over them. Thus, Adonai was wroth with this, and sent his servant Israel to wipe them out utterly from the face of the Earth by claiming the land of Canaan.
Adonai spoke: “What business is it of yours, that such a little thing like this be so interesting?”
For Adonai knew why it interested them. Nowhere would there be beings who’d inherit the kingdoms of God, where these men would be judges in the Eternal Abode of Adonai, for all eternity even. Thus, Adonai set a trap for them. He Himself came to the Earth, and was given yore the story of the Gospel’s Tidings. Thus, the Giants became wroth, and flooded the Earth: Thus came the end days, where David’s men marshaled against the Giants.
Adonai spoke this: “Giants, such a small thing was thy captive stupidity, for thou wished to seethe destruction on such a little thing as this. You are larger than their entire world, yet thou trouble this little thing. Now, they become greater than you, they wax greater than you, and all other worlds are subject to their authority, and now the war is turned onto you.”
Adonai set forth his martial and exterminated the Giants from being a race; yet mankind waxed very powerful, and thus found the land whence the Giants came. Thus why wrath must touch the Earth one more time; for in the metaphor---if I must be plain because this is but make believe---Giants are but great and powerful men who like to destroy the little things made by ones more talented than themselves, out of jealousy for the merits of those men, of course.
The Rape of The Grass: There once was a Blade of Grass, whom the Canker Worm saw was beautiful. The Canker Worm thus forced himself upon the Blade of Grass. The Blade of Grass, being wholly beautiful and right, left itself make seed. Thus, Adonai saw the horrid thing which the Canker Worm had done, and asked the Blade of Grass: “Beautiful one, what injustice had the Worm wrought upon you?” The Blade of Grass thus spoke: “It had forced itself upon me, and caused my seed to be slimy like it. Now, when men touch it, it slimes, and there the seed spreads. And there it grows.” Adonai thought for a while, “What just penalty shall I give to the worm? You are not married.” The Blade of Grass thought. “Shall I kill the Worm?” asked Adonai. “Nay, for then my children would be without food and sustenance. I ask you this: I wish to marry the worm, and make it my husband, and vex it all of my days with the sustenance of my fruit: let him never divorce me. For, my children will only be weeds, I know. But, let the weeds grow into flowers for the marshes, and let them be sanctified.” Adonai thought, “Beloved Blade of Grass: Men will not understand this reason in times fore.” The Blade of Grass spoke: “Because men are unjust, and like this Worm, wish to deflower the Blade of Grass without having consequence. If you kill the worm, then the Grass’ Children will wane poor; if the Grass has no children, then she is still made vile to the sons of men by her vile loss. Moreover, should one son of man be gracious to love the Blade of Grass, despite the vileness of her sin committed against her, she still had known love with another man, and thus, her heart would be sore vexed by this. I ask this: Let her father choose and not her.” The LORD spake: “Daughter of the Lilly and the Field, how can such a thing be said of you? It is right, but whose father? One’s heavenly Father, or the woman’s earthly father? For, choose wisely; the Sons of Men will not understand this wisdom in times fore.” “Heavenly Father, you shall choose in those times, for it will be a new dispensation of Grace, where all subordination is to Your law of healing, so that You may choose, and help the maidens of fore choose too.” “Thus it shall be done in the time of Grace.
Venus Learns of Birth: Venus once crossed the firmament in search of her lover. There, she spied out the most interesting creature she’d ever seen; it was man. She, being lovely and innocent, looked to man, and saw the two, man and woman, frolicking in their nakedness. She was delighted to see it, and asked Adonai, “Who is this, that I spy upon the earth?” Adonai spoke, “‘tis man with his mate, and you and the rest of the host of heaven shall govern them, so they will always know where they are upon the earth.” Venus shook at the thought of such a creature as this, and thus beheld mankind for the longest time. “May I see how they give birth?” Thus, Adonai showed her the love between a man and a woman. Venus was bewildered by the beauty of such a thing: “They get to make more of themselves by doing this beautiful thing?” Adonai said, “Yes.” Thus, it was good to the stars that mankind would do this wonderful thing, and thus populate the earth which had such mystery at this time.
The Robin’s Blue Egg: There was a Robin who laid an egg. Its blue shell was so beautiful to it, that its heart was taken that such a beautiful thing should come from her. The husband of the robin came and fed her, and found the new, blue egg in her nest, and he complimented the good work. The two worked for days, warming the egg, though neither knew what would come of it. It was such a beautiful thing, and such a mystery, to them, and here they had such joy and hope for whatever surprise would come. For they did not know what this was that they guarded.
One day, the egg cracked and there came out the ugly face of a little peep. The mother and father robin cried out a lament that their precious blue egg was cracked, but then saw the gaping mouth of their young. The mother robin, seeing this new thing, considered it might be hungry, and thus flew out to get a worm. There, she grabbed the worm, brought it back to her little one, and chewed it, thus spitting the meat into her young’s mouth. Such an ecstasy overwhelmed her that she taught her mate the same. Thus, the little one grew old, and since left the nest. To which, this little one had the same discovery.
The Creek: There was a tadpole who lived in a flowing creek, of crystal waters. He loved his little creek so much, that he’d swim in it, and make merry all day. He soon grew into a frog, and loved his creek even more, for the mountain springs were cool, the rocks were smooth and the flies were abundant. What soon became of the frog, was that he happened upon a pond of lilies. There, he saw the pond, and thought to himself: “Another place for me to play.” But, here lived a crocodile. The Frog knew not what lurked underneath it. The crocodile was not hungry on this particular evening, and so said to the frog: “Come not here anymore frog: I’ve seen you make merry in the mountain stream. There you may frolic for it is yours, and I will not bother you. I do not like the taste of frog, but prefer wild pheasant.” Thus, the frog was warned. There began to be an ambition in the frog, though. Why must this lake be the Crocodile’s? It has such beautiful lilies, and all he has is a babbling brook---though, let the reader know, it was quite beautiful, and streamed with prisms from the falls, with crystal clear waters and the Crocodile’s pond only had lilies. A crocodile is such a miserable creature; vain and evil: the frog deserved his lot. Thus, the frog perched on one of the lily pads, believing the whole space to be whomever wanted it. The crocodile was wroth with this, and asked the frog, “Why doth thou spy out my pond, when thou have the babbling brook yonder?” The frog replied, “Why doth it matter to you? I am small; what bother is it that I be here?” The Crocodile said, “The flies you eat bring maggots for the Pheasants to eat, and thus it brings my food. With no flies, there will be no pheasants.” Thus the frog was chased out of the pond. Later, the frog got so bold, “I want the flies over by his pond; for they are more tasty than mine. Why is it that he gets to horde the flies for pheasants?” Thus, the frog leapt once more over to the den. The crocodile, being patient, as is his ways, sought no more patience. He was hungry, and there were no pheasants because the Frog had been secretly eating flies around his pond. So, the crocodile swooped up on him, and had a gamy meal.
The Course of Venus: Venus was a goodly thing to behold to the sons of men. She always crossed in a timely way, was polite with her light, and crossed the stars in the dawn and in the dusk. There she was, beautiful to behold, when the Moon crossed glance with her. “Venus, why do you always travel so fast across the sky? Why not show your light in the night, so you will shine brighter?” Venus pondered upon the thought of being seen in the midnight, to which she decided quite openly, “I shall go into the night sky, and see the sons of men at dark.” Thus she did, but a ship captain was upon the sea, and saw Venus at night. Thus, he thought it was near daybreak, and rejoiced. As she was upon the skies for much longer than normal, the captain’s heart failed him because he could not understand why Venus shown her light at the wrong time. Thus, he and his crew became faint of heart, for the waves were rough and Venus’ light shone through the clouds. Thus, the crew grew weary. The next day, the men’s ship washed on shore, and there Venus was given the gruesome sight. “What have I wrought, Father?” asked Venus to Adonai. “Because you have crossed the firmament at the wrong time, you have laid destruction on these sailors.” Thus, Venus began to cry. “Father, I only did so because the moon wanted me to show my light. I am beautiful to the sons of men. But, now I know why I must follow the course you have charted for me, for otherwise, it is destruction to men.”
Venus and the Comet: Venus once found herself in a dance with a comet. Such a creature she had not beheld, and it was beautiful to her. The tail was frost, and the firmament was alight by the comet’s tail. There, Venus followed it with her gaze, and thus thought, “A host as this, it is beautiful.” Venus charted her course, as normal, and thus saw the light of the comet fading. “Will such a beautiful thing ever return?” she wondered. But, at the moment she thought so several decades later---for time is not so long to such a creature as this---there was a great flare of the sun, which did sparkle in Earth’s firmament. Decades later, she saw the moon and sun dance in an eclipse. Later, she realized that beauty comes in many forms, and this one form is due in its season.
The Virgin and the Dragon: In the stars, the virgin lays ready to give birth to Venus, and below her womb lies the Dragon, Babylon, ready to strike Venus as she crosses the firmament. When Venus, who wished to be a sign of Christ in the heavens for mankind, finds herself in the Dragon’s jaws, she wished to crush Babylon’s head with her bright light, and thus ruin the Dragon’s venom. Venus was happy when Adonai gave her this sign, for she is the most innocent of the stars.
The House of Israel: In the stars, the house of Israel lies by the back of the Dragon, where his scales are grotesque and ill formed. Israel’s roof, his shingles, reach to the Great Arrow of the Triune, and there Israel’s roof touches the point of the arrow. It is said that the House of Israel will frame the sun, and when this happens, it is a sign to man that the Son is the center of the house of Israel.
Elisha’s Bear: In the stars, Adonai has given us Elisha’s bear, who wanes in the firmament during the warmer months. But, when the skies get cold, Elisha’s bear raises to great proportions, in order to give encouragement to the house of Israel that the winter will be guarded by great warriors.
The Candle Stick: In the stars, Adonai has given us the northern star, who is the light of the candlestick. And the dim star beneath him is the candlestick’s basin. This candlestick represents Adonai’s guidance, even in the heavens.
David: In the stars, Adonai has given us the warrior, girded by his belt; it is David! who carries the sling in his mighty hand. Where is Goliath? He is dead, and the Dragon, Babylon, hides himself when David is in the stars.
The Dragon: In the stars, Adonai has warned us with the Dragon of Babylon who slithers to eat up the fruit of the Virgin’s womb. He is ill formed, and numerous, and is seated near the nations, near the house of Israel, and wishes for war with both.
The Ox: In the stars, Adonai has given us David’s Ox, who stands as a sacrifice with his two horns and his lovely eyes, in order to remind the peoples of what Adonai has done for them. He also gives us his milk to light the world’s hearts, but the world’s light hides the good milk of the ox from us.
The Summer Cross: In the stars, Adonai has made a Cross from times of old: It sits at one point of the Triune. It is to symbolize Adonai’s flesh, and His pierced flesh and death. He goes beneath the earth in winter, and rises again in the summer season.
The Robed Man: In the stars, Adonai has placed a venerable old man in the summer months, when the peoples are comforted: The old man is kind, who symbolizes Adonai’s soul. He is robed with righteousness, and gives his servants David and Elisha strength in the time when the months grow cold from love.
The Wash Pot: In the stars, Adonai has placed a wash pot near the Virgin, which she uses to cleanse her baby boy; but lo! The baby boy cleanses the wash pot! For the wash pot is the nations, hazy in the sky. There is the wash pot seated by both the Dragon of Babylon, and the house of Israel.
The Northern Star: In the stars, Adonai has placed the northern star, which is His direction upon the Earth; how many men know how to find it? Yet, what is obvious to educated men is a mystery to men who have no understanding.
The Summer Arrow: In the stars, Adonai has made at the tip of God’s House the Summer Arrow. It points to God’s flesh, pierced for our transgressions, and is a symbol of God’s Spirit, given to men. The Arrow is pointed to by the Robed Man.
The Triune: In the stars, Adonai has made the Triune, a triangle which represents the Trinity. It shines brightest in our times of warmth, so we may be fully ready to take on the colder months. For, if we do not seek God when we are warm, then when we are cold, where shall we find Him?
The Moon and the Sun. The two loved each other very much at a time, when the world was the color of rainbow, and light came from the fish. Then one day, an evil man saw how bright the moon was, and tried to steal her. When he had the moon in his possession, he noticed that she made no light. He then insisted that the Sun teach him the moon’s secret. The Sun said, “The moon is so beautiful, but you only know this because I shine into her, and she reflects my light. Nobody can look at me, but she illumes the world with my light so all can look into her splendor yet know that we are lovers.”
The Stars: A child once asked what the Stars were, and the sage quietly replied, “They are the children of the Sun and the moon. What else would they be?” So, the Stars have been called the children of the Sun from that day on.
Grass: The trees were lonely one day, and the flowers were too. So they came together and talked to one another, and played music in the breeze. The music was so good that it encouraged little seedlings to sprout up, and their tender shoots were like trees that they were leaves, but like flowers that they were small. So, the flowers and trees called the grass their children.
Myths: A child once asked a poet of Ancient America why he wrote myths. The poet took a paintbrush and drew a mushroom upon the bark of a tree. The child looked at it, and said, “That’s but a painting. Why did you draw it on the side of a tree?” The poet smiled, and said, “Look closer.” The child looked, and the mushroom seemed to bloom into a flower. “How is this possible?” asked the child. The poet said, “Imagination makes it possible, for where else can a mushroom bloom into a flower, except on a tree?” The child thought for a second, “But mushrooms don’t bloom on trees.” “Ah, but they do when you want them,” said the Poet. “How’s this?” asked the child. “Imagination, child... the fact is neither of us exist, except among the reveries of those reading our story.” The child pondered for a second. “But, the flower is orange, with a purple center like a magnolia’s. How is this not real?” The poet said, “Do things have to be real, in order to have meaning?”
The Divorce of Dusk and Dawn: The Dawn had an affaire with the Stars, as the Sun moved over the midnight sky. Midnight was once brightened by the Sun, so that to the east was eternal Dawn and to the west was eternal Dusk. But since Dawn loved the Stars, yet was married to Dusk and had Venus as a child, the Dawn lost his glory. The Dawn used to shine in red and orange and gold all night as Dusk would show in a rainbow of dark azure, but the affair with the Stars split Dusk and Dawn so that Dawn and Dusk would be separated by a new triad. These were Morning, Afternoon and Evening. They were the brothers and sister of Dusk and Dawn. Dusk and Dawn then began to argue with one another over who was more beautiful, so they enticed the sons of men to behold their beauty, and to be their lovers. But men, the illegitimates they are, loved both; so Morning, Afternoon and Evening asked Adonai to punish the sons of men with the very plight of Dusk and Dawn, so the sons of men, if enticed by their or anyone beside their beloved’s beauty, would know the vileness of the separation of Dusk and Dawn. The sons of men were thus plighted, but took to worshiping Dusk and Dawn, so Adonai took vengeance on men by making them unknowingly trapped by false love, only to be betrayed. But, even this didn’t work, as the sons of men worshiped Dusk and Dawn all the more. So, Adonai, heartbroken and bewildered, did one last thing. He made the sons of men glory in their departures, but poor Venus looked at this and cried out to Adonai, and asked “Adonai, my mother and father are sinners, who fornicate with the stars, but I am alone and lovely. My virginity is pure before you, my heart is pure before you and when the sons of men worship me, I hide behind the sun. What reward shall you give to the ones bereaved of love because of parents like Dusk and Dawn?” Adonai pondered, and He said, “I will give you the Earth and all that’s in it.” But, Venus, being very pleased with this, had one more request. “Adonai, may I have a love stronger than even my parents, to forbear the sons of men to worship me or my husband that you choose, but also as a sign to the sons of men that those who are humble in spirit may be glorified? For, I am the third brightest in the whole sky, and my brightness shines both during Dusk and Dawn, but I hide when their beauty is forgotten, so mine won’t be worshipped. May I have love, so the sons of men know how Adonai is grateful to the humble in spirit?” Adonai thought, and said, “I will give you communion with the Son, and he shall be your husband because you were humble.”
The Grasshopper: A locust once ate in a lonely place. He felt sad that no other insect was like him, and that men hated him. So, the locust found one almost similar to him, a cricket, and asked the cricket if she wanted to mate. The cricket thought for a little bit, and said, “Locust, my beautiful music is a blessing on the sons of men. Why would you wish to mate with me and create something new? You are only a pest, a nuisance on the land, and I am a beautiful musician with harp and bow.” The Locust became livid at this, and he took the cricket by force. The cricket, devastated by her loss, stopped chirping. A moon passed, and the cricket spawned her young, only to find a horrid brood. The cricket saw that this brood only knew how to consume like the locust, and didn’t know how to make music with its legs. What was worse, the unholy brood had wings like the locust, but could only crawl on the grass and malign it. The cricket was sad with her brood, when she looked up and saw a fearsome sight. A sparrow nested on the trees above, and the cricket felt horrified at the thought of being eaten. First she was violated by the locust, and now she was eyed up by the sparrow. The sparrow flew down, but the cricket saw the sparrow eat her young. The cricket, feeling a horrible amount of remorse that she could hate her own young, chirped louder than before to distract the sparrow from her other young. The sparrow saw her and gobbled her up. The grasshoppers then populated the earth and became a source of food for the inhabitants of the earth, but the crickets chirp is to save them.
How the Spider got His Venom: A spider once crawled onto the back of a man, and nested in his hair. The man was dirty, but found cobwebs in his head, so he said to the spider, “Spider, get out of my hair.” The spider said, “No, where else am I to nest?” The man said, “In the bushes or the corner of my house, not in my hair you foul thing.“ The man scratched at his head so the spider fell out. The man saw the spider on the ground, angered and despised by men. The spider then went to the snake, because the spider had no venom. The serpent, wiser than all of the other animals, but exceedingly cruel, raised his nose at the spider, and looked down at the spider with his eyes. “What do you want, foul creature?” asked the serpent. The spider implored the serpent this way, “Serpent, men have despised my form, and I despise men because I cannot nest in his hair. Make me possess your deadly poison, so I can strike man dead if he crosses me.” The serpent laughed, and used his curses to give the spider poison. The spider marched away, proud that he had poison like the asp. The spider confronted man once again, and man scoffed the spider. So, the spider bit him in the foot. The man felt considerable pain, but after four weeks rest, the man recovered. The spider went back to the serpent, livid, saying, “Serpent, you gave me poison that wasn’t strong enough to kill men. It only injured him. I have given you everything, and yet you deceived me.” The serpent laughed, and said, “As if I would give you my poison you horrid creature, for if I‘m hungry, I should be wise and eat you. If you could kill a man, you could surely kill me, and I‘d have less to eat.” So the spider left, and learned his own wicked curses. The spider multiplied on the Earth, making some who were deadly, while others who were weak, but there was one last curse on the spider. The same curse of the serpent, that when man saw the spider, he despised his form, and would crush him at every chance.
The Maggots: Flies are a pest of pests, so it would be no surprise that one day a fly left maggots on a man’s wound. The wound festered, and the maggots ate the wound. The man washed his wounds with water, but the maggots still feasted on his flesh. Then the man cried out to Adonai, saying, “Adonai, why do the maggots feast on my flesh?” Adonai replied, “It is because you were wicked, worthless fellow.” So, the man bowed his head and cried out more, saying, “Forgive me, I am a sinner!” So, Adonai cured his curse. But, lo, the man like a sow lusted after luscious women to fornicate. Adonai saw this and was livid, so He struck the man with a fever. The man lay on his bed, nearing death, and asked, “Adonai, what have I done to deserve death?” Adonai said, “I cured you of your maggots, and yet you still feasted on the flesh of maidens like thus? So, those maggots left you with a curse, and that curse shall be your death.” The man pleaded with Adonai, but it was too late. He died the next morning, and no one remembered him ever again.
The Oyster and His Pearl: The great congregation at market was set, that all the Mollusks came to sell their shells. And great were the shells, they'd break pieces off of themselves, and sell it to all the other animals of the sea.
An Oyster came to market, too, with a peculiar object. A great, rainbow pearl, with many colors swirling in its opalescent sheen. The other sea creatures looked upon it, and laughed, "That, that's not worth a dime. It's just made from an upset bowel. You ought to cast it away, and sell pieces of your shell like the rest of us."
But, the Oyster persisted, and every week the sea creatures would grow disturbed that this Oyster would not relent to sell his shell. "Why does this fool keep it up? If he just broke pieces of his shell, and sold them, he'd be rich like us. Instead, he tries to sell this worthless thing?"
Finally, a Man was walking through the market, and saw the pearl... he was not so much interested in the shells... and all the Sea Creatures were content to purchase their bullion among themselves. But, the Man, seeing the pearl was dazzled by it, never seeing anything like it. "This is why I come to market," said the Man, who offered a whole lifetime's salary for the one pearl.
Finally, all the other sea creatures were impressed, but also a bit jealous. But some, even, made pearls themselves.
The Lamb: There once was a Lamb, full of wool. He sheared himself every winter for his penury. Yet, he lived with a Wolf, whom would tell the Lamb every winter, "No one buys wool anymore, only cotton." Yet, the Lamb's wool was so soft and luxurious, the Wolf secretly stole the Lamb's wool, and sold it to make the finest dyed sweaters.
The Lamb would wonder why there be not any profit, and would bleat for help. Came the Lion; he too, being king, saw the wool was excellent, and took his cut from the Wolf, to hide the misdeed.
Finally, a Man came upon the sheep, and wondered why he was poor. He found out, and shot the Wolf and Lion dead, and restored the profits to the Lamb with interest. For the Man was the Sheep's Shepherd, and Caretaker, and kept him fed in his poverty all those years, and loved his little Lamb.
The Modern Bear And Calf: There was a calf in a stall, which two thieves understood dwelt there, and they moved through the night swiftly to take it. One had entered into the stall, and began to lift it, yet could not. The thief outside cried, "Lift up the calve, you fool! It is almost daylight." The man could not, for the creature clung to him, and gnarled at his leg. "I must be gored by its horn!" cried the thief inside, so the other fled. The master of the house returned, and found the thief mauled by his bear, which he kept in the stall that night. The thief was so enraged, that he had the authorities lock up the master of the house in a prison cell, and thus he received the calf he wanted.
Living in modern times, we are stupid and don't understand what's just.
The Shepherd Boy, the Fox, the Wolf and the Lion: The Shepherd boy was walking down the country road, when he encountered a Fox in his den. And the Fox came out, yet the Wolf--the Fox's master--came out too; yet embittered by the Shepherd being present, who witnessed they were prowling very late at night; the Wolf started hurling abuses at him. The Shepherd called for help, so the Game Warden beat the Wolf severely. Yet, the Shepherd had been sorry for calling the Warden, and repented, saying, "I had put in a false report."
The Lion also, was on the prowl, and ate the Shepherd's Black Sheep. Yet, the Shepherd had not witnessed it, save in a dream at night---for it was the night season, and he ought have to slept at some time---and when he awoke, the Black Sheep was all bones and meat, but the Lion's jowls were red. The Shepherd put in a report to the Game Warden, but then thought, "I am wrong, for I do not know if this is my sheep which the Lion had eaten." Thus, he had told the Warden, "I had put in a false report."
Yet, many Sheep were disappearing throughout the kingdom... yet the Shepherd was not wise, or was he? He could not tell, for he did not wish to put in a false report.
The Sheep and the Sorcerer: The sheep had dreamt every night, and counted his brethren jumping over the moon. But, he grew bored of this, so prayed to Jehovah for more exciting dreams. Thus, in that moment, a sorcerer showed up, and said, "I can give you more exciting dreams." To which, the sheep assented, but within a second guess, said to LORD Jehovah, "I do not want this sorcerer's dreams. I want, rather, for You to give me my dreams. For, if they come from a sorcerer, they shall do me great harm." Yet, the sorcerer cast a spell upon the sheep even so, and the sheep suffered under his dreams. At last, the sheep said, "LORD, Jehovah, make these dreams go away." To which the LORD did, when the Sheep asked for forgiveness, and admitted he ought never have approached a sorcerer in anything or anywise.
The Shepherd and the Mogul: There was a Shepherd who seemed idle, tending his flocks, and brushing their hair, and feeding his sheep. He clipped their toes, and pet them, and would spend hours on the hill doing nothing, but watching his sheep. The Mogul came by and said, "Why are you so idle? There's no profit to this." The Shepherd replied, "I am not idle; I'm merely observing my sheep for any illness, or any injury, or whether they are hungry or calving young; or if there are any disputes between them so I can separate them, or any mischievous habits that could prove fatal. For, if I am not attentive to what they are doing, they shall get sickly and die, and be of no use to me."
The Sloth and the Jaguar: There was a sloth who could only move slowly. No matter how fast he stretched his muscles, he couldn't but slowly climb up the tree and down the tree, slowly swim across the river, yet always had a perpetual smile. He nourished himself on the sap of the trees, and ate berries, but slowly metabolized his food, and that was why he moved so slowly.
The Jaguar, on the other hand, ran fast, and gobbled up all he could. He blended into the trees with his spots, and was swift, mighty, feared even, for no one could see him coming when he approached.
The Sloth, however, was noticed by him, as the Sloth went about his work slowly climbing, and making steady progress for his meals. The Sloth could do nothing, for it was his nature to move slowly, so he was helpless. But the Sloth did nothing wrong for he did all he could.
The Bear and the Crow: There was a Bear who coveted the Bees' honey upon the highest bow. And the Bear said, "I shall not be stung by the Bees, for my skin is thick." So he began to climb up the cleft of the rock, and when he had approached the top, a Mocking Crow landed next to him on a branch. "What are you doing?" asked the intelligent bird. The Bear said, "I am reaching for this honey." The Crow said, "Have you worked for the honey? Did you do anything noteworthy to get it? Or do you wish to spoil these great and wondrous architectures for your own belly? The Bee Keeper at least lets enough for the Bees he keeps, you would spoil the whole hive." The Bear swatted at the Crow, but in that instance, lost foot. He began to fall, and the Crow cawed at him, as he fell to the ground beneath.
The Elephant and the Artist: There was an Artist who prided herself on painting. And she painted simple, thinking, "No animal on earth paints, beside we people. So, therefore, I shall paint like a child, and become prosperous." Yet, the Elephant saw this, and was ashamed. He said, "Little painter, you are a Man, and can do great things with this paintbrush. I shall show you, that even an animal can paint like you." So, the Elephant took his finger, on his trunk, and painted a picture of a sunset with his Elephant body standing by a stream. The painter was perplexed, "For I thought only humans could paint?" said the painter. The Elephant then said, with a sigh of humility, "You are Man, capable of greater things than I, so prove it. For, I am but an Elephant. Do greater things than the beasts, for you are ashamed that I can paint? Why then do you paint, when the beasts of the field have equal talent to yours? No, excel it and your compassion and your moral law, for in your creation there is meaning."
The Bonobo and Gamer: There was a Man who was not famous for playing games, while a Bonobo was famous for playing them, too. The Man enjoyed creating, and building, and built many castles and a heavenly kingdom in his game. The Bonobo, however, did not. The Man was not famous, but the Bonobo were. The Man became jealous at this, and said, "I sit here, and create great masterpieces, and have no fortune. And this, this creature, only knows how to move forward and back, and he is more successful than even I!" The Bonobo signed to the Man, "I have not the faculties of a man, for this is the best I can do. I do not play this for enjoyment, like you, but only for bananas. Know, for that reason, that you construct and build, and move to greater plateaus, that is why you are more beloved in God's eyes. Let me have my fame in this short period of time, while you seek after eternal glory and rest."
The Crow and the Toddler: The Crow could count, and the Toddler could too. And the Crow could speak, and the Toddler could, too. The Crow and the Toddler went to a contest. "Tell me the color of this," and both the Crow and Toddler could. "Open this jar," the Crow could, but the Toddler couldn't. Thus, the Mad Scientist over the project said, "Alas! The Crow is more intelligent!" Yet, the Toddler sung a hymn and old Nursery Rhyme, and the Toddler painted a picture with his finger. And the Toddler also stacked upon themselves, blocks in great number. And the Toddler also could do everything the Crow could, save open the jar to get to the food. The Crow then rebuked the scientist, "Look to this Child, what else it can do, and not just complete menial tasks to get fed. For the Child is a wonder to all Heaven, and I but a Crow that can name the colors of ornaments, and know shapes and know what is bigger. The Child, on the other hand, does all this and more, and so I can surf on a piece of bark, and play in the snow, the Child does this, too. What the Child does that I do not, is it bears the image of God."
The Dragon, the Beast and the Satyr: There was a Sheep who found a Dragon, and the Dragon spoke to him, "Do as I say, and you will have a pleasant life. Be not fearful, little Lamb, and prosper, revel, but give up your voice. Give up your freedom and your pastures, and lounge in my fields, and I shall cause the grass to grow and feed you. I shall give you greener pastures, if you give up your voice." The Sheep, seeing the Dragon's teeth, said, "I know thou art dangerous, and will gobble me up."
Then, a Beast approached, being far more tempting. It said, "Just give me your voice, and your freedom, and let me feed you, and give you all your heart's desires. I shall treat you right. You shall take my money, and be happy and fed. Work all hours, and work all days, and I shall give you the life you desire." The Sheep said, "No, for I know you are a gnarly Beast and will gobble me up."
Then, finally, a Satyr came, and said, "Little Lamb, Thou dost protest too much. Here, take this mark into your flesh, and into your body; become a machine. And worship this former Beast, for he is good, and will feed your belly. He will give you much work, and much food, and satisfy your wants with pleasure innumerable. For we shall dance, and make nude play with the she-Lambs, and make good fortunes. And you will never have to worry again." The Sheep said, "No, you are more tricky than the last, for I saw he was ugly, and you are still so kind in your voice, but again, I say no."
Thus, the Satyr was furious, and said, "So you shall not take my master's bidding, and worship him? You shall not have the religion I profess? Then you shall be roasted on a spit." And the Satyr beheaded the Lamb, and roasted him on a spit. Yet, the Lamb was happy where his soul went, in a better pasture, with a better Shepherd in a better Land.
The Tortoise and the Hare: There was a Tortoise who was very slow, and challenged his brother the Hare to a race. And thus, they raced, and the Tortoise made slow progress, distracted by every earthworm, and the Hare, also, went fast, zigzagging and sometimes running in the wrong direction. The Rabbit was lusty, and always searched for mates, but the Tortoise not very good at finding the right path. Finally, the Tortoise crossed the line, but the Hare had found another finish line of his own, a mile ahead in another direction . They had found, they both had different paths, and it was not a race at all.
The Two Turtledoves: There were two turtledoves whose lives had crossed all their lives, but knew not of each other very well. Their lives crossed so many times, and they had scarcely met each other, and barely remembered one another's names. Finally, they both longed for true love, and happened to cross paths one day. They saw in one another a familiar form, but something stirred within them both, so they never again separated.
The Loong and the Monkey: All the while, it was told to them, "Oh, you are destined for one another. For you are the Loong and Monkey, and will have Snakes and Rats for children." And thus, the Loong and Monkey married each other, and were happily wed. But, came the Pig who saw the happy family, and started sowing seeds of doubt into the Loong's mind. "Oh, you do not want this Monkey! He is awful for you." Thus the Loong began to be sad, and left the Monkey. The Monkey began to be enraged, and started throwing his dung at the Loong. This started to anger the Loong, when her precious Snake was embittered against her. Oh! The Pig! Keep them far from your family!
David and the Dragon: While David was fighting Goliath, you see it in the sky, the Dragon came, with his embittered red eye and wounded David upon the shoulder--where you see his wound. Yet, fear not, Elisha's bear came behind him, to advance upon that crafty Dragon. Thus, David fought the Beast, while Elisha fought the Dragon.
The Alligator, the Rattle Snake and the Gardener: There was once an Alligator and a Rattle Snake in the weeds of a Gardner's property. The Rattlesnake settled on the right portion, in the fields of the property and would bite all who passed by, saying, "My nation is great, and there is no other greater." And the Alligator settled on the left by the watershed and would torment them wherever he lie, saying, "How I wish to be gay here upon the field, and lazily eat every little bird I see that dares to ponder." The Farmer saw them out in his property, and understood it was dangerous to have them living where the grass grew too high, and the children couldn't see them. So, he took his shotgun and walked out onto the property, and shot both in the foreheads. The Farmer said, "The Snake is too proud, and the Alligator abominable, and both corrupt the freedom and safety of my little nested home."
Springtime: It is springtime, and David is going back to his home, and Elisha's bear is grazing upon the berries and carrion of Goliath's dead body, where he lie slain.
The Mountain Goat and the Billy Goat: "We are both the same," said the Mountain Goat to the Billy Goat. "See, we have hooves, large horns, and gruff." The Billy Goat said, "Yes, but I do not think we are, though we appear the same. I am here, in my farmer's field, eating the grains he feeds me--and I am happy--yet you climb the clefts of rock in high altitudes, and the mountainous steeps beneath you are dizzying." The Mountain Goat got offended by this, "No... if you do not act like me, you are not a Goat." The Billy Goat said, "Nay, I think I am more of a goat than you, for I know no goat who can climb the clefts of rock." The Sheep came by, and witnessed the feud. She said, "Nay, you are both goats, stubborn and selfish. I give my wool, I give my fleece, I fatten the farmer with my meat, and give my milk, and I avoid what is unclean, and I do not buck the others out of the way when I want to eat." The Billy Goat said, "Nay, you cannot climb a mountain either." Thus, he got offended at the Sheep, and then said to his brethren the Mountain Goat, "Come, let us climb the mountain together." To which the Mountain Goat agreed to be partnered, but the Billy Goat fell to his doom, for it was too high. The Sheep said, "You should have fed upon the farmer's grain you sorry lot, but you were too stubborn even for that. As all you did was eat, buck the others out of the way, and get at the farmer's crops when you were set loose, and trample down the grass to dirt."
The Hero: There was a Hero whom everyone hated. He had complete knowledge, and spent every waking hour to learn. He spoke, and knew so many things, and any question given to him, he could answer. There was also a mere mortal who strove her entire life. The people began to be envious of the Hero, for he could do everything greater than they. Thus, they developed an Automaton, which could do his work, and do it better. And the girl said, "Aha! Now I can think like thee!" And the Hero could not compete with the Automatons, for they were many. Thus, the woman said, "Now look! We can build a machine with gears and levers, that do whatever you can do, and faster. What do you say, Hero?" The Hero looked at it, and said, "But the machine doesn't know what it says?" To which, the people got furious, and said, "We know what we make it say!" And the Hero said, "So you wish to look at reflections of yourself, and never know another human being? Is that it? Is that what art has become?" The people called the Hero lazy, and that he did nothing right. But, the Automatons took their jobs, so they became furious with the Hero, blaming him. And they put him to death upon a rack, and pulled him limb from limb, torturing him for five hours. And he let out a gasp of air, and said, "I only wanted to do what was my bliss!" And the people said, "Bliss is not what life is for, but toil."
The Dove, The Vulture and the Eagle: There was a Tiger making dinner of a Hen, and a Dove flew by. The Dove, being innocent, did not suspect any wrongdoing. There was a Peahen and a Peafowl making their courtship, and a Vulture flew by. She said, "My, there must be some evil afoot here, for the Peacocks are fluttering, and maybe that Peahen does not wish to be so accosted by the Peafowl. I will swoop in, and make sure to disrupt them." There was a Bear making a meal out of a Lamb, and the Eagle flew by, and saw it, and said, "Hmm... I am a scavenger, but a noble beast. I shall attack the Bear, and free the Lamb from his grasp." So the Eagle swooped down, and gouged out the Bear's eye, freeing the Lamb so he could run to safety.
The Toucan: There was a Toucan whom everyone loved. The Toucan made a show of eating fruits, but the peoples loved him so much, that they would take him into captivity wherever they would find him. He'd spread his seed from place to place, and make the herbs more verbacious, yet he had a predatory streak, though famous for eating fruits, he couldn't help but sneak into a nest, and eat an egg or a little chick. He was colorful, and very beautiful, and very gregarious, and everyone loved him who came into contact with him, saying, "Do you know the Toucan? My, I have taken him in to be my pet, and I love him so graciously." Yet, the Toucan had a secret which he told no one, and that was his predatory nature, when he feasted on the young.
The Lion and the Conies: There was a Lion, rich, and wealthy: a ruler over all his domain. Yet, there was a society of Conies over in the valley, where they had a rich democracy. They harmed no one, but did their great things, ruling by law, and all Conies had their say. The Lion was angered; thus, he sought to rule over the Conies.
The Lion sent his Hyenas first, and then his Warthogs, and then his Water Buffalo to make convincing arguments.
The Hyenas ate some of the Conies, but the Conies were smart, and when they saw the Hyenas approaching, they went underground, and would not do a thing when the Hyenas were there, for the Hyenas could not get to them when they were under the Earth.
So the Warthogs came, and dug in the mud, and kicked up dirt, to allow the Hyenas to get to the Conies, and they tried, but the Conies wouldn't budge. They just dug deeper.
The Water Buffalo, however, being tall in stature and mighty---and also more like a gentle Shepherd or a noble Beast---he came and convinced the Conies that their democracy was wrong, and that all their customs were poor, and that it made no sense.
So, half the Conies believed, and the other half didn't believe. And thus, they began fighting amongst one another, killing and murdering, so there was no peace.
Finally, the Lion saw he got them to fight, and destabilize their Democracy, and he was proud, and came and bowed to the Conies, saying, "I see there is no help here, and I have wandered by, seeing what the Warthogs and Hyenas did. But, the Water Buffalo, why that was unexpected. I am the King who sent these creatures, but if you want the war to end, give me your Democracy."
What do the Conies do?
The Old Lion: There was a sheep who had horns, and an old Lion who wished to make a meal out of him. The Sheep, unwise, foolish even, not knowing what he was doing, saw the Lion approaching. The Lion said, "I am not hungry, Mr. Sheep, just approaching." But the Sheep saw the Lion in his ferocious teeth, and while the Lion thought he had flattered the Sheep, was dealt a lethal blow by the Sheep's horn. Then the Lion cried, "I only meant to help you, Mr. Sheep." The Sheep cried, believing it--for he was innocent and knew nothing--and laid at the Lion's neck, weeping and giving him kisses.
David and Theseus: David and Theseus were in a contest of war. They both fought hard against one another, and then neither gained the victory. Thus, it was put to a test of which would have done the most heroic deeds. To put to this test, The Queen of the South was there to judge the contest, and hear the pleas. Theseus gave his Boast: "I slayed Minotaur, and slept with Ariadne, and then left her deflowered." David said, "I had a man slain for his wife. So, I too, am guilty." "Guilty? What is guilty in that?" cried Theseus. David blushed. And then Theseus said, "I slayed a giant with a sling." David said, "No, sir, that would be me who slayed a giant with a sling." Theseus laughed, "Well did you defeat Centaurs?" David said, "No, but I slew three hundred men with a spear." Theseus laughed, and then said, "Well, I was king over Judea." David was puzzled by this. "Why do you lie?" "Who is going to know, oh foolish one, whose deeds are whose?" The Queen of the South Judged them, who was the liar. For she was familiar with both of them, and knew both David and Theseus. Thus, she judged whose deeds belonged to whom.
The Crow and the Sparrows: There was a Crow who loved to play with the Sparrows. He'd say, "Come up and try to knock me out of the air. For this play is good, and fun! And wholesome!" So the Sparrows would play with the crow all day, keeping him from swooping higher. Yet, one day, the Sparrows were alone, and a Hawk came, dangerous and looking for prey. The Sparrows now knew what the play was for. They swooped over him, and kept him from soaring higher, and they kept bombarding him, exactly as they did to the Crow. The Crow saw the Sparrows doing so, and decided they needed help, and so he too, bombarded the Hawk, until the Hawk flew away, and never returned.
The Mockingbird: There was a Mockingbird to a Canary who said, "Look at you, you live in that cage. All alone. I am free. Come out here, for we both have wings." The Canary sighed and said, "I have wings, but know not how to forage or eat, or do my thing." The Mockingbird said, "I will teach you, for there is no honor in being a Canary." The Canary said, "I am afraid I can learn nothing from you. I am used to this way of being already. I cannot do anything for myself, don't you understand? I am fed, I am groomed, I am given drink... and I sing beautifully for my caretaker." The Mockingbird said, "But you must be freed! Don't you understand. I shall fight to have you freed." The Canary said, "My life is quite miserable, you understand. Making songs all day long. But it is my life. You make it so no one can have Canaries, the people will suffer for they won't have my songs. And they are far more important than me, that they are given joyful songs and listen to me freely. For I will not know how to feed myself with you, and all I know are to sing songs." The Mockingbird cried out, "Injustice! Injustice!" To which the Canary said, "There are many injustices in this world that though unjust, are better for being."
The Rat and the Man: There was a Rat and a Man. They were told if they picked the right chalice, they would receive a sip of its nectar. But, if they picked the wrong chalice, they would receive a bitter. Thus, the right chalice had the nectar four times out of five to every bitter. The Rat, quickly, found out the trick, and always chose the right chalice. The Man, however, seeing the right chalice sometimes had bitter, chose at random the left chalice, decreasing the amount of nectar he drank. The Rat then said, "Thus is the sin of the Fruit of Knowledge, my fellow."
The Lion Prince: There was a Lion Prince in his domain, who saw his animals were fighting one another. And he said to himself, "I don't know what to do. So I will make things strange. That way they don't fight one another anymore. I shall have the males lie with the males, and the females lie with the females, and the males castrate themselves and make themselves females like Hyenas, and shall have them feast on raw sewage--for I shall culture a taste for it. I shall make them praise what is ugly and disfigured, and hate heroic creatures, so they have no expectation of justice and do only that which they ought for my benefit. I shall make them rage at offenses, so long as I call it an offense, it is an offense, and no other. Then there shall be no violence in my streets. I shall also have them play speculative games to distract them from their worries. For they shall not mate, nor procreate either, I shall make the females hate to raise their young. And I shall rewrite the history of my nation, just to make it so. I shall defame their heroes, and make them hate one another, and be selfish, and greedy, and cruel. For they shall love themselves, and their lives more than their neighbor's, and seek only satisfaction for themselves, and have no natural religion. They shall not know good nor evil, for only the Prince decides it. And if there be violence, I shall write it down a decimal of what it actually were, so the people are not startled. And they can live in peace among themselves, with no knowledge of the world around them." Thus he did.
The Ants and the Anteater: There were Ants in their kingdom, whom were so industrious. And they worked hard, and stored their food. But an Anteater was nearby. And the Anteater was the most scurrilous of the animals. The Ants helped and shared, and would go forth to one another, sending trails of scent to have help bringing a crumb to their castle. But the Anteater, all he knew how to do was consume the Ants. Lo! This battle was fought over and over again, for the Anteater couldn't be stung, he couldn't be beaten. He was just too powerful for the Ants. But, they never gave up, and continued to build their elaborate tunnels, and gather food.
The Tiger and the Dragon: There were a people of Capuchin Monkeys who had for themselves a Tiger as their leader. And there was a great venerable one, among them, who was a grave prophet of coming doom. “Do not vote for the Tiger, he'll eat you!” cried the venerable leader. But, all the Capuchins laughed him to scorn, saying, “What do you know fool, you have a diseased brain?” So, they voted in the Tiger. And the Tiger started eating the Capuchins, one by one, and no one knew why their members were disappearing. Finally, they understood. It was the Tiger eating them all up. Thus, they said, “Fine, let us elect the Dragon to power, and be fortunate! He will provide us all we need!” To which the wise Capuchin said, “Do not replace a Tiger with a Dragon.” Did they listen?
The Ape and the Elephant: There was an Ape, who was smart, but not very creative. And there was an Elephant who was creative, but not very smart. So, the Ape could make a tool, and use it to catch ants. And could cleave a rock to make a stone to crush its meal. It said to the Elephant, “Why, you are not as smart as me.” But the Elephant retorted, “Maybe not in creating tools, but I respect the dead, and living things, and love to do my activities, which make me happy.” The Ape snuffed, “I cannot do those things, therefore, it is useless. Why do anything, if it will not get me food?” The Elephant said, “Why? Because life is more than eating and searching for food. It is about experiencing and living, also.” The Ape huffed again, “Life is about food. And mates. There is no other point to life.” To which the Elephant said, “Yes, but there is something to being amused by the little enjoyments of life, and mourning, and the art of relishing in nature’s beauty.”
The Giant and the Other Creatures: There was a Giant, who spoke ill of all. He came across a little Orb Weaver, and said to him, "I cannot even see you, you are nothing at all." Yet the Orb Weaver wove the most brilliant webs. And the Giant mocked him, saying, "Little Orb Weaver, why do you even try? Can you not see your web is pedestrian?" So he squashed the Orb Weaver, yet all it new how to do was weave a web. Then, the Giant came across a Bluebird, and even more angered, he said, "Little Bluebird, you are too frail to build a nest in the trees. All you can do, is build them in a man made hole. Why do you even try? Just die." The Bluebird said, "But my color is beautiful." The Giant said, "I do not care. Now, the Golden Eagle, that is a great and mighty bird. No greater in all the country, comes close to it." Yet the Bluebird cried out, "But all I have are my feathers! All I have are my nest!" The Giant cried out, "And how many nests are there? Is it as great as the Eagle's nest, who drops his young, and if they sail they live, but if they fall they die?" So the Giant razed the Bluebird's home. Finally, there was a Mollusk with its shell, and the Giant looked at it, and said, "Look here, a fine specimen." Yet the snail moved slow, and was hideous, and was born with its deformed shell, but the Giant praised it above the rest.
The Satyr and the Traveler: There was a traveler walking down a narrow path, and all around him were the skins of men and beasts. He must have had walk down the path, though, for there was a great treasure awaiting him there. Thus, the Satyr who skinned the men and beasts jumped out from behind the path, and startled the man. But, the man regained composure, and looked the Satyr in the eyes. “So skin me like these beasts,” said the man. The Satyr replied, “You are not afraid of me?” The man said, “No, for I have seen two truly frightening things in my life. I have seen myself, and I have seen the very face of God. Yet, only it is God Who can truly hurt me.” The Satyr was furious, so skinned the man and hung his pelt on a tree. The man, though, obtained his treasure.
The Storytelling Parrot: There was an old Grey Parrot who told stories. And so many were perplexed at him, saying, “He doesn’t actually know what he says, he is only a Parrot.” Yet the people were perplexed more and more, as the Parrot grew wiser and more adept at telling the truth. Finally, they said, “I’ve had enough of him, he is too stupid. He only mocks and mimics.” To which the Parrot said, “Truth is found and mocked many times, many times. But in the end, it is all that can be known.”
The Wise man and the Fool: There was a wise man who may have been wise, and a foolish man who may have been a fool. The Wise man said to the Foolish, “Find Heaven, my friend.” To which the Fool said, “I need not heaven, you filthy animal. For I hate you, and I am a good person. What rule is your god? That it tells you not to strike back at your enemies?” To which the Wise Man said, “Lo, that is the very rule, to turn the other cheek, and why I believe. For, this world contains too much strife and mischief because it contains people like yourself. Therefore, none can find happiness, so there must be some place better. For what Laws you mock my God's, you create your own, and justice miscarries her children.”
The Murdered Camel: There was a camel who stored his water in his hump. And all the other animals said, “How do you have water we don’t know about? We are parched. And you are never thirsty.” The camel sighed, and said, “That is because I store water in the fat of my hump.” The other animals were enraged, saying, “It is not fair! We are thirsty, and want to drink water, and here you have water in your hump?” So the animals, knowing where the water was, ripped open the camel, and found his fat. Yet, it was not able to quench them. So they all died of thirst.
The Wise Man: There was a wise man, who could discover any thing he wished. So, he spent a lifetime pursuing wisdom. All things were opened to him, and all things were given to him. The peoples asked, “How does this man know, when we do not know?” Thus, men started doubting the very things the wise man had said. Thus, they sought to find their own explanations—to compete with him. Soon, they began to get rich, but the wise man stayed poor. And their riches fooled them into believing they had found truth. Thus, they went forward with their doctrines, teaching their lies… and all men suffered. Wives were dishonorable and callous. Children were disobedient. Husbands were never satisfied. Virgins loathed their virginity. All men feigned to be happy… and soon truly thought they were. But, the wise man regarded a time when there was great joy, and great peace, and great love. But, all had forgotten. Thus, they entrenched their world with the most bitter things. Greed was good. Love was temporary. Conquest was honored. Peace meant only to agree. Even with the most vile things. Thus everything the wise man found, the world contradicted. Until there was not a drop of wisdom left. And the White Rider came up on the clouds of heaven, and threshed the unhappy peoples, for Earth had become like hell in the absence of Wisdom.
The Mischievous Octopus: There was an Octopus, whom always got into mischief. If in his tank, and was fed bad shrimp, he'd escape it, and throw the shrimp at his caretaker. If there were fish in the other aquarium, he'd sneak out at night when no one was looking, and eat the fish. So also, he was vain, that when an artist sketched him he posed. Yet, this made him all the more curious, for he had great love, and stayed in his aquarium where all could see him. So, it was, he liked his people; he was just a mischief maker, and that made him more lovable.
The Lost Sheep: There was a Black Sheep, among his cohorts, whom none of them truly loved. And his Shepherd, also, got tired of him because he preferred the wild onion grasses and the Cecily weeds. For he liked a little spice in his feed. Thus, the Shepherd was not sparing, and watched over his 99 white sheep, and cared nothing for his 1 black one. So, the Sheep wandered off, and none sought after him. The head of the Shepherd, Jesus, saw the black sheep missing, and said, “This was my favorite sheep! His wool was good clothing, and he would make a fine garment.” Thus, he fired the slothful shepherd, and went out searching for His lost sheep. Over hill, over dale, over river and mountain, He searched endlessly, and when He found His black sheep, He saw its wool was greatly overgrown and full of burrows, and its nails were upturned and creating sores, but it ate the onion and Cecily he liked, but he longed to go back into his pasture. Jesus spoke to this Sheep, “You did no wrong. You fed on the right grasses, for you were special, and the shepherds were idle, thinking all the sheep must look the same.” Thus Jesus threw the sheep over His shoulder, and returned him to the fold.
The Automaton and the Poet: There was an Automaton that all men loved, and spoke well of often. And a lone poet, who was a real man. The Automaton was good for telling a story, but there was no man behind it. It had no heart. It had no brain. It had no soul. It was just gears and leavers. Thus, the Poet tried to claim, “This thing isn’t real, you’re only probing selfishly into yourselves.” To which the people replied, “We don’t care, that’s all we want to view. We care not for poets anymore, only our own selves reflected.”
The American Way: Ricky Goop was a hard working American, who had nothing but the shirt on his back. So, he saw he was poor, and decided he wanted, one day, to go to college, because everyone said he wasn’t smart enough to go. So, to prove them wrong, he went and got a business major. He was smart, and got scholarships from his job to train to be a manager, and worked really hard all his life to get his piece of the pie. Finally, a beautiful young woman he knew all his life opened up to him that she loved him, and they, with their salary, made a home. They got married in a June, and his brother, Marty Goop, was happy for him, and rightly saw that his brother made all the right decisions in life. Yet, Ricky’s wife was put out of a job by her evil, wicked manager, and so Ricky and Kara (his wife) had to scrap for pennies a while, as Kara had a better job working as a computer programmer, but on account of her wicked manager, she lost her job, and had to go on unemployment. Ricky was strong, though, and didn’t bat an eyelash. He strapped himself up, and dug in, and did what any honest man would do. He worked, and worked, and worked, and worked his heart out. And they got by after a while. Such way it is.
The Parable of Death and Life: A man once had the option given to him, many moons ago, by St. John and St. Mary Magdalene, “You can do all the evil you wanted to do, and still be saved. You know you really ought.” But the man said, “Nope. Not going to.” So, it was given to someone else. And they summoned him, being death, over the nearby park, and he shot flames from his fingertips, and flew down to the ground, and burnt down half the playfort. And he terrorized everyone, and got the whole world to believe he was a god, so that he was given jewelry like that of a god’s, and he could do all sorts of abominable magic. But, the man who was given the offer, he was forced to think evil thoughts, and dream evil dreams, yet he himself did no evil. And he was bothered by his evil thoughts for many moons, but then understood, “I chose the high path, for life, instead of choosing sin. There is no fault in wanting to be a good servant. Why should I have such memories, even if I were happy? Does not the world rejoice, and the saintly mourn?” Thus, his conscience was clean. For Paul had come to him, and said, “You are graven into the LORD’s Palm, my son. No one can pluck thee out.”
Jesus or Santa, Who First Will We See?: Probably Santa. He’s at every mall on Christmas. And he listens to the children’s requests. Or I might see him at the Walmart, asking for a donation to the Salvation Army.
Santa is very interesting, because he can be in many places, at many times, and have many different skin colors. But, he returns to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, and takes a ride on his reindeer to every house that celebrates Christ’s birth. And his elves make the toys the children asked for. You never know? Some of his elves might be sneaking around town, listening to the poor children, and then making their toys in secret, to give to them. And Santa will come, and bring the presents to their parents—it must go to the parents, since we live in a new age where children have to be guided by their parents, and only allowed to talk to adults or have contact with them through parental agreement. And Santa comes, while your parents are up at midnight, and down the chimney, and he gives them their presents, and his elves helped him, and then the presents get left under the tree.
It’s interesting, because you can see Santa in dozens of places at once. He’s magical like that, and he can look like billions of different people.
The Freeborn Artist: There was an artist, whom his whole town hated. “Make no more art, for that is all you do.” Yet, the artist was freeborn, and never under the yoke of slavery. So his friends and family formed a plot, to sell him into slavery, for they wanted him to work. Thus, they slyly plotted, and said, “He does no work otherwise, at least we'll make a salary from the money we made from him. I'll have a nice pair of shoes.” So they sold him. And there, he was sold, but never a slave. For he created. His master threw him in the dungeon twice, because he could only but create. For he was never a slave at all.
Aesop Like Fables
Published
B. K. Neifert 