Song Sings

 

Song often wandered off alone climbing to a high point and look out to sea. Yum was concerned and asked her what she did.

“I’m waiting to see what happens” she said.

But it is not safe” pleaded Yum.

Song smiled, “When I feel something may happen I look around me. Maybe the great spirit is telling me something. So I am waiting to see what it is.”

“It is not safe, Song” pleaded Yum.

“When the Great Spirit calls me I will listen. Don’t worry Yum, go home to Dum.”

When Yum returned to the village she spoke to Dum. “I am not happy that Song is out in the dark. Go and make sure she is safe and persuade her to come home.”

Dum was doubtful so Yum said “When you come back I will warm you up”, touching his face.

So Dum took a firebrand with him and went to where Yum said Song was. He found her staring at the moon.

He called softly to her “Song, it is me Dum”.

“Come sit Dum. Yum has sent you to look after me hasn’t she? We are a pair aren’t we? Tonight I feel something will happen we may see it together”.

They both looked out to sea then noticed the sky was darkening even though the moon was shining. Song nudged Dum  “Look at the moon, is it dying?” There were no clouds but the Moon was disappearing.

Songs face was covered with tears and she sang a sad song he’d not heard before. She then cried out “ Do not leave us Mother Moon we need you to lighten our darkness.”

Finally the moon was completely covered. Song sang her lament until the Moon satisfied someone cared for her showed a spark of light on her rim. They stayed some time until the full moon shone normally again. Dum held her close and brushed the hair from her face.

“Go home Dum” she said hoarsely.

He shook his head “We go back together Song”.

Song nodded reluctantly “I’ll see Yum tomorrow but tell no one else of this mystery. No one, do you understand?”

“No I don’t understand, but I trust you Song”.

368 words

Image from www.pixabay.com

 

Inheriting the keys to the kingdom

The rain beat against the window pane

The birds had disappeared, ants the same

Who could say what the wiggly worms all did

Probably from the birds they all hid

As the wind's squall beat about the bush

My wife cradled singing "Shush"

Whispering she would like a cup of tea

It was the weekend so that meant me

So I put the kettle on to boil

Which was quite good for a weekends toil

I looked out onto out uncut lawn

And the overgrown flowers all forlorn

Baby now was sleeping happily

She returned him to his nursery

Then came back, I held her in my arms

Then I stole a kiss, such were her charms

So we sat there as the rain fell down

We drank tea, I saw she had a frown

"You want me, don't you?" she said smiling

As she unbuckled my belt, grinning

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Birds in the winter garden

 

I've had enough of winter

Although I say that every year

The days are short my yearning long

Waiting for all the birds spring song

At least there's no ash in the grate

To be cleaned up; for that I hate

Winter stripped the leaves from the trees

Our kids mention they have cold knees

Each day we send them off to school

Then look at garden's frozen pool

See the bare branches in our back yard

As last night's wind has blown so hard

Conversation with naught to say

Among the quiet birds today

Until a rook makes a sad call

Clearly is not happy at all

Later there's a more strident squawk

That's now mentioned by a hawk

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

Trapped in the storm.

All the cave dwellers had moved to the village where spirit woman Song lived. She persuaded the head man that Dum would be a useful and creative member. Although some cave dwellers were unsure at first, the watertight roofed huts to live in persuaded them that it was a safer place to be as the village had a fence around it. 

One day however Dum and Grunt were hunting in the forest when a terrific storm trapped them there. They were soaking wet and couldn't light a fire and the streams and rivers were dangerous to cross even bursting their banks and some tall trees had been blown down.

Carefully avoiding danger they made their way back to the sea. Dum kept lifting his nose to catch its scent as the damage and debris was vast. Finally they made their way to the seashore. There were fresh rivulets everwhere bound for the ocean. Heading back toward the village settlement was difficult as flood water was too dangrous to cross. As the tide was coming in Dum persuaded Grunt to help him get a fallen branch into the sea water and use that to carry them up toward the village. Luckily the tide was on the turn and pushing them back to shore so paddling the branch they managed to head for the village. Recognising where they were he slipped off the branch to see if he could feel the sea bed. Finally it felt firm underfoot and they left the branch and safely waded to shore again.

Getting back to the village Yum hugged him tight as he told her what happened. She in turn showed him the damage done to the village huts losing their roofs but everyone was safe. Later he told her what they had done saying that he might use a large log to travel out to sea to fish and explore. 

"One day perhaps" Yum replied doubtfully..

Word count 328.

Image from www.shutterstock.com

The village where Song lives

 

When Dum and Yum talked that night Dum said that they would visit the village people with a gift and decide what to do. Yum nodded and said "I think that Song the spirit woman has spoken about us and our tribe to her people. She must see the value of what we do". Dum, nodded, saying, "We should take them a gift to show our good will and ask to see their village". 

Dum laughed "You want to take a basket of gifts and see Song there?"

Later Dum and two other cavemen set off with Yum carrying Lara set of to the village. They took some time to reach the settlement. Clearly they had been sighted for soon some men came to meet them. Dum went forward and placed the gift a basket in front of a village man.

"A gift for the village" Dum said assuming he was their leader. "The basket of woven reeds has many uses, inside there are some flint spear heads and a knife made from bone" The leader nodding his head said "We will show you our village. I see you have brought a woman with you. Is she your spirit woman?"

Dum smiled, "She is my wife and this our younger child showing good will. Yum can talk to your women while you and I are talking of other matters."

The men were then shown the village of timber huts with reed rooves and a large area of land where vegetables were grown close by and ready to harvest.

Dum then said "You mentioned a spirit woman. Who and what is this person?"

The man replied "Our spirit woman tells of approaching storms; heals the sick and tells us what is good and bad for us. Do you not have one?"

"Perhaps she looks after all people not just your village" Dum said, "Does she live in the forest, the mountains or by the sea?"

"No, she lives with us in the village. She told us to find you; the cave man leader with one eye who if he came would bring his woman showing his good will".

354 words

The rogue shark

Five times he tried to harpoon that rogue shark

But failed every time ere midnight came

The weather was mild but he was worn out

Lathered with sweat but shivering with hate

The shark merely teased staring at him still

Grinning almost showing off his fierce teeth

He'd tethered himself lest the shark pulled hard

Once the stars came out he knew he would lose

But he still remained determined to win

As his boat plowed through the dark black water

The shark waiting for his first error to strike

His eyes shining still from the man's lantern

The man was stumped; he should have brought his mate

He now had a yearning feeling inside

To get back home and let the damned shark go free

He felt bad and his heart was beating fast

He cut the line, surprising the shark who stared

At  the man bent with pain as his heart failed

Next day his boat was found with him in it

Later that week he was buried in the soil

At home with nature

 

I never felt more at home in nature 

Than I did as an eight year old youngster

My delight was walking around the wild woods

Listening to the birds announcing me there

Telling all the critters I was there again

Squirrels would look down at me from the trees

And snakes now warned would slither away 

So rather than that I wander about

Sat down with my back to an old oak tree

To show that I certainly meant no harm

So that they slowly resumed their duties

The birds swooping around after insectss

The squirrels now leaping from limb to limb

A fox looking at me from far away

Keeping very still the creatures relaxed

Birds chatting away high above me

A hedgehog lumbered past me unafraid

And high in a tree an owl now peered down

Turned his head with one eye looked backwards

Then stayed like that for a few minutes

Now satisfied I was no threat turned away

Years later my wife and I did this too

Settling down in wild places overseas

All creatures are happy if you're no threat

Unless they have their young offspring close by

If only we would treat them with respect

Then they would know we do them no harm

We would then find they would not hide away

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

In a different light

How time flies regardless of our wishes young or old

Pulse beating, pumping, blood circulating away

Dreaming of the past running round as we play

Leaping in the grassy fields, plucking wild flowers

Chasing each other barefoot or laying in the sun

For life was great them everything was good fun

Soon we'd see the girls in a different light

A smile from one of them had our hearts beating

What's to say seeing her face in a different light?

With both of you grinning as you meet each day

Now were a pair, a double holding hands in the street

Meeting each morning both hearts did skip a beat

Dad finds you shaving with his razor one friday morn

Well he say "I get you one of your very own"

Looks down at your scuffed shoes "You have to clean your own"

So no more kicking gravel, framed my life differently

I was flying, floating on a cloud way up high

Dreaming of my lovely sweet Ellen bye and bye

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

Visitors to the cave

Some visitors came to the cave one morning that said they were from a clan not far off, waving to the north. Yum and Dong kept their heads bowed appearing not to listen. Yum was feeding Lah-Lah even though she was nearly weaned. The name they had chosen for her was Lara and their boy Wah-Wah's name was now Wara; a name normally given to a water deviner as he often came home wet. 

The men were from Song's tribe and were proposing that the cave people should join them so they should support each other against intruders and other reasons.The discussion lasted long as the visitors were asked what benefits were there for the cave people? Dum had kept quiet but then spoke; "I may only have one eye but I can see clearly. You have come because you need us. We can survive in cold seasons and in warm ones. Food is plentiful in all seasons for us and we survive well." The clan members nodded in agreement. 

"If you have done this too, why do you need us?" Dum asked.

The visitors put their heads together whispering then the leader spoke up.

"We have heard that you do things we do not, you eat more food from the sea and catch animals in different ways" He paused then said " Perhaps in exchange we could show you what we do?"

Dum laughed " You have been watching us but don't understand what we are doing, so what can you do to help us?"

Again they bent over and murmured together, then nodded, "We grow our own food and store some for winters hard times but we need you to make our tribe bigger, be stronger to resist our enemies".

At this point Yum nodded to Dum, who bent over and she whispered "I think their spirit woman Song has suggested this to them. At this Dum nodded but said nothing other than announce to the visitors they should share a meal with them and continue the talk later.

The visitors nodded as Yum looked at Dong whispering "Good more honey for us"

(355 words)

Image found at Pixabay.com (I tried to find some cavemen gathered together discussing the amalganation but could only find cave women !)