A TALE

 

Somewhere, just outside a tiny village, is a lake. Eight heavenly maidens bathe there. They sit by the shore, oblivious to the world. Water shimmers in their cupped hands, trickles through their fingers, runs down their legs. Moonlight coats their white feathers.

The young man sees them from behind the trees. Their beauty enchants him.

Quietly, he comes back and sends his dog to steal the feather robe of the youngest. The seven sisters cry out and fly off into the sky. But the youngest cannot.

Now she is his.

Once of the heavens, she is now bound to the earth. Bound to the young man.

He builds a house and they marry. Their children sing every day.

 

Behind every myth is a truth that inspired it. Everyone knows about swans. But I learned the fairytale first. When I was a child I thought it was romantic. But then I began to wonder. The young man – when did he learn the poor girl’s name?