It starts with the single breath of a word~
Bere'sit...
In the Beginning, we collected ourselves as best we could within the broken shells of the world. We gathered our scant technology that the inundation left to us and the surveyors set out across the waters to the unformed lands. There they beheld a miracle and looked with pleasure upon ha'shemim [the Highlands] and arez [the Lowlands].
Yet as the surveyors told us, the Lowlands were an empty region, with no souls living there and no charts which described the low lying valley. The Seven Lords of the Counsel and the Seven Great Ladies of Wisdom agreed declaring, "Let us enlighten ourselves of the wonders of this land."
So it came to pass that we crossed the waters to gather once more and begin the work of rebuilding our society on the heights that had been selected. As the great halls were constructed from the cedar trees of the heights, the surveyors slowly moved outward and left their markers where they distinguished between ha'orhas [the known] and hashakhas [the unknown]. The known lands we called Yom and the unknown Laylah: the Lands of Day and of Night.
There was singing and dancing from the evening until the morn... the first stage was now complete.
The Seven Lords of Counsel and the Seven Great Ladies of Wisdom came together once more and looked down and out upon Laylah. Enki, the Lord of the Sweet Waters, and Ningikuga, the Lady of the Pure Reed, spoke their thoughts aloud, "Let there be constructed a great vault in the middle of the river's waters, and let it so divide the upper waters from the lower waters." And so it was done; the great wall that rose shining to the heavens was called ha'shemim [the Heights], and all who looked upon it did so in wonder.
There was singing and dancing from the evening until the morn... the second stage was now complete. | I met you last night in a dream.
I found myself walking with an acquaintance down some dull street, crowded with modern flats and buildings which looked down upon us from their kingdom of ugliness, fighting our way against the currents of people who were as grey as the city which surrounded them. Our conversation was lost among the noise, which made no matter as my acquaintance was more interested in reciting the inventory of the large paper bags printed with upscale logos that contained a king's ransom of trendy flotsam. It was then that the sound cut through the numb haze I blanketed myself with... it was your laugh, but I did not know it then.
"What's down here?" I asked where a small pedestrian way opened between the buildings. "Let's go see."
My suggestion was met with an expression of doubt, as if offended that something so humble as a walking path should dare try to trespass upon the territory of the broad asphalt rivers of the city streets. "Nothing special," came the reply, voice matching well the expression of affronted boredom.
"Come on," I urged. By then the sense of adventure was rising, and it was only fair that I be allowed to indulge my interests after indulging those of my acquaintance, after struggling so long pretending to enjoy this excursion.
"I don't want to," came the petulant answer, "besides, there is a place that I have been dying to get you into. You're going to-" The look on disbelief on her face was monumental to see, and as if you could see it, another echo of your laughter beckoned me to follow my instinct and turn. "I can't believe you."
That was fine and true. You see, I was not supposed to assert myself or disrupt the plans of others, for I was the kind one, the tender one, the good-hearted one who behaved as the perfect friend should do. "Not this time," I had answered. I would not remain silent and abandon my desires. Oh how that hurt! Poor creature could not endure my denial in those three words; the horrible truth is that people often get used to goodness, to tenderness, and then they take it for granted and abuse it. And then they gape at you like fish out of water when you do not budge from your stance.
"Fine. Suit yourself." The words came out as an accusation, a challenge, and I let them wash off of me. There are words worthy of attention and caring, and these fell into neither category. "You are such a peculiar person." The last crushing words came floating back to me on the wind; only they made me smile as I turned to walk down the passageway. The words made no difference to me as I walked, they could not change anything; not my decision to take this path and certainly not who I am. Peculiar or not. |
