In turbulant times

A story can sooth the soul.

In a cave, an old woman

Sits weaving the most beautiful garment in the world

She uses her teeth to flatten the porcupine quills,

Worn to nubs, her smile is most effective.

Hers is a perfect creation and as she sets it down

to wander to the back of the cave to where

A huge caldren sits on a fire

It is full of seeds, all the seeds in the world

The forest, the plants, the flowers

And it requiring stirring so that it does not burn.

While she is there

A black dog comes into the cave

Sniffing the garment, it pulls on a thread

Until the whole thing is unwoven.

When the old women returns

She sees the pile of thread

Perhaps she yelled at the dog- I don’t know

But with a wild glimmer in her eye

She begins again

Knowing in herself that the next garment

Will be even more beautiful.

““““““““““““““““`

I heard this story told by Michael Meade