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