#organicity

[lliesse]

Wi-We

[t--ilda]

[t--ilda]

[intheoldnorth]

Lie

You were a sink or swim I took you in You swore to me you wouldn't cause me harm You lied to me while lying in my arms I don't know what to do I won't give up on you Your face is the face of the fallen souls who've walked into the fog before If I send you away like I couldn't help you, like I couldn't help them, how many more? My papa said son, don't you rescue fair maidens, there are better ways for you to spend time But I'm telling you, dad, the world's heart's breaking so who's gonna keep her alive? I don't know what to do I won't give up on you So pack your bags if I can't change your mind Or if you plan to use me hard then you'll have to get in line I don't know what to do I won't give up on you Will you help me heal the breaking heart of our tribe? Will you join your hands to my breath so we may survive? Will you learn what family means yet? Learn not to lie? Learn not to lie

[intheoldnorth]

The Man in the Clearing and the Scorpion

I came across a clearing in the woods. Its grass was tall and green. The clearing was wide so at its center the trees were some distance on all sides. It was a sunny day and the wind blew. Staccato lines of white clouds marched doubletime across an otherwise bright and blue sky. It was a clear day, the kind of day that sees right through you.

I was surprised to spot a man lying in the grass near the center of the clearing. He was rotund and rosy, wearing only a brief pair of cotton shorts. His shiny round belly glinted in the sun's light, and the shadows of the tall grass danced all over the skin of his legs, chest, and face.

None of this was what startled me. The startling part was the scorpion. It was small, but I've heard that small vermin are the most venomous of all, and the most to be feared. Its carapace was black, shiny, and hard. Its eyes were dull black beads peering forward in a predator's gaze. And while I watched, the little devil stung the fat man's hand where it reached outstretched above his head. Then, it pulled back, retracted its stinger, paused, and struck again! Over and over again, the scorpion struck the man's hand. It struck in the same place every time, and I could see that some blood dripped from the open wound and onto the grass.

The man lay on the grass with a half-smile. Every time the scorpion struck, I could see his closed eyes tighten a little, but the smile didn't fade.

"Old man," I hailed him, concerned and curious. "Why do you lay there letting that scorpion sting you?"

"I am the scorpion," the man replied, not opening his eyes.

"Yes, yes," I said. "Of course you are. But doesn't the venom hurt?"

"Sometimes," he said, "but the scorpion hurts worse than I do."

"Okay, I get it," I said to the stranger. "You're clearly a sage, and I can see you have mastered some of the mysteries of mind and body. You can heal yourself even as you are stung, that is wonderful. But, isn't this a waste of your time? Surely, there are better uses for your magic than to lie in the middle of this clearing and be stung over and over? Why don't you move twenty feet away, so the scorpion stops its stinging? The clearing is large."

"Very large!" the sage replied, gesturing to his belly's girth and laughing uproariously. He looked at me, then, though he kept one hand near the scorpion, which continued its repetitive pattern of venomous sting.

"Of course I have considered moving," he told me. "Being stung in this way is not my favorite way to pass a sunny day. But look how engaged the little lady is!"

Little lady? I looked at the scorpion. It peered back at me ferociously, and stung the man again.

"She is lonely," the old man said, wincing a little. "She doesn't know how to ask for a friend. She keeps stinging me, and I keep hoping she will crawl onto my hand."

"Gods," I said, wonderingly. "Are you enlightened?"

"Just very confident," he answered with a nod. "Now, if I become too distracted, this venom will start working its way towards my heart, so I'm going to meditate some more. You can sit with me if you'd like, but be careful of the scorpion."

With that, he lay back and closed his eyes, allowing the sun and the shadows to play once more over his face. I watched him for quite awhile longer. I wished that I knew his secrets. But if I did, if I knew what he knew, would I truly let a scorpion sting me? Over and over? Without fear?