Pan (grace of the earth) :
A still, deep lake. The surface is as black as night. A drip of water drops in and it’s swallowed with barely a ripple of disturbance. A tiger in mid-leap; the bunching, powerful muscles across its huge back as it prowls. The majesty and grace of a stag; the quiet, powerful and precise strike of a hawk
Big, powerful, blunt hands being ever careful and gentle. Patiently and steadily carving away at a block of wood, the animal taking shape under the expert hands, the knife finding the nose and the eyes and the streamlined body.
In a forest on a high mountain, the air is cold and clear and pure, the sunlight is blocked by leaves; the forest is quiet but not silent; there is the sound of life rustling around everywhere. There is a fleeting movement at the peripheral. Between the trees and shrubs, moving into view and out of view, there is a stag, slow and majestic. This is the grace of the earth.
Ayla (lovers alone wear sunlight) :
Grinning. Teeth startling white against tanned skin. Laughing: laughing with someone, making someone laugh. Waking up in the morning and knowing it will be a good day.
Liking yourself. Being pleased and proud of yourself. When you surprise yourself. When you catch that ball you didn’t think you could.
A lion cub basking under the bright, hot sun, stretching and purring and playful. A lion cub gamboling, a lion cub pouncing. Free as the wind, bright as the sun.
The moment when you jump for the volleyball and it’s on a beach and you’re suspended in mid-air and the sun is in your eyes and everything is high and bright and possible.
The sun, the sun, the sun. Everything the sun touches is possible; everything the sun touches is yours.
Hal (as glad as can be) :
Soft, pastel colours on quaint, handmade products. Things that are made with love.
Singing as you go around the house, giving a little twirl of a dance when you’re happy. The first buds of young leaves sprouting emerging as winter thaws to spring. Flowers blooming as the air warms and lightens, larks singing.
Stone rabbits in the grass: some hopping, some just resting. Little stone angels on posts at the corners of the garden, blessing it. A garden of flowers, the loamy soil under your hands, the sun smiling down on you.
A baby elephant twining trunks with her mother, holding on like they’re holding hands.
The quiet chink of china, the sound of the trickle of tea into a teacup, and above it all, a musical, sweet voice warmly speaking. Talking and smiling and laughing; cheer and kindness and warmth.
Home; home that is a person.