Author: Yari
Date:Nov 2 1995
Once there was a cyclops who did a bad thing to a tree with whom he was acquainted. He realized his error and sought the tree out in the forest. He danced with the tree, he tried to joke with the tree, but to no avail. The tree was still wounded, its bark scarred. So, he sat and sang the tree lovely songs, soothed the tree, trying to heal the damage that he had so callously caused. The tree, as trees are wont to do, stood by and... well...treed. The cyclops became frustrated, all his efforts for naught. He thought and thought, what can one do to mend a tree's scars? The tree smelled smoke and quickly realized that the cyclops was lost in thought and smiled. "Poor cyclops, all the thinking in the world cannot help you. You must learn that what you do is not as simple as it may sometimes seem. Your actions impact others in ways you do not anticipate. It is not easy to undo what is often so easily done... Trees are long-lived, even though at times through our innocence and beauty, we may not seem that way. So, you may attempt to think of how to quickly mend this scar in my bark all you like, but there is no way to do that, only time can heal trees," she said. The cyclops took a moment to digest this(cyclops take a moment to digest just about everything) and realized that the tree must be correct. "Tree, I shall try not to slight you again. I shall try not to act rashly in all aspects.You have shown me that which only the wisdom of greater years can teach me,and I will attempt to live by that which I have learned here. I can only hope that, in your wisdom, you can learn to understand why I do the things I do, and trust in me that they are not without reason. If it seems that I am doing something that is cruel, or unkind, please understand that I am not being intentionally unkind, and demand an explanation. This is all I can offer, and I hope that it is enough." With that, the cyclops stood up and gently grasped a branch, so as not to break the tender spring growth. "Come along, I've a whole world to show you,if you'll let me...." Yari