Wednesday, February 08, 2006
" " I've been silly," she told him at last. "I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy."
"He was surprised that there were no reproaches. He stood there, quite bewildered, holding the glass bell in midair. He failed to understand this calm sweetness.
" "Of course I love you," the flower told him. "It was my fault you never knew. It doesn't matter. But you were just as silly as I was. Try to be happy... Put that glass thing down. I don't want it anymore."
" "But the wind..."
" "My cold isn't that bad... The night air will do me good. I'm a flower."
" "But the animals..."
" "I need to put up with two or three caterpillars if I want to get to know the butterflies. Apparently they're very beautiful. Otherwise who will visit me? You'll be far away... Don't hang around like this; it's irritating. You made up your mind to leave. Now go."
"For she didn't want him to see her crying. She was such a proud flower...."
" "Where are the people?" The little prince finally resumed the conversation. "It's a little lonely in the desert..."
" "It's also lonely with people," said the snake."
" "People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn't forget it. You become responsible forever for what you've tamed. You're responsible for your rose..." "
"You know... my flower... I'm responsible for her. And she's so weak! And so naive. She has four ridiculous thorns to defend her against the world."
Yes. Taken once again from
The Little Prince because I adore that book. Truly, I must be the flower. But maybe the fox, too.
How much longer will I have to wait, sitting and wishing? I am only a flower with but a few ridiculous thorns with which to defend myself against the world.
The sun is setting, beautiful and red in the horizon. Once I would have said it was dying (and I'm sure I will again), but tonight I think... I think it's just leaving. To travel. (The sun is very symbolic to me. But I cannot tell you how else you take my secret and break my heart. Do not mock me.)
I smiled last night. A real, true smile brought on by memories.
I am not so very sad. I am a little consoled. No, I am not so very sad. I think some of the caterpillars are turning into butterflies.
