Sophia's Garden 5 Toad's Gift
More surprises appeared in the night darkness. Just before dawn a toad was surprisingly serene as we approached it's perch, considering it's mortal enemy Sophia's dog walked by my side. From a mossy round boulder it sang to us in flute like tones, "The journey can overcome you, do not fear, peace will be your boat and Sophia will guide your sail".
Walking further the stones turned to sand and then dunes of sand seemed to pull my feet deeper into a hot beach. I followed Dog on all fours, crawling on my hands and knees. Uncertain of where we were crawling I became attentive to the changing ground under my hands and knees. Heat turned to moisture then coolness. Firm sand became soggy and floppy like lily pads. I was soon floating in cool water from one reed mat to another. I wondered who had woven these strange stepping stones. The function of these floating mats was unclear as they were too fragile to support much weight. Yet they appeared sacred in the wet void. There ahead of me I saw the toad hopping from one perch to the next. I wondered how my weight would be supported on the tiny flat floating steps that supported his slight weight. Then I was gathering them one by one with each reaching stroke of my arm. I was not aware yet that I was no longer swimming in water, but standing in moist sand. Small golden oval leaves gathered at my feet and began to swirl around my toes and ankles. Dawn appeared as a thread of light on the horizon.
"It is yours to use as you need". I looked up startled by the toad's voice and saw the boat he was looking at. It was a small craft of periwinkle blue trimmed in lavender. Suddenly he turned and jumped capturing an entire spider web with spider and prey in his mouth. Turning his head to look back at us one more time, I heard the chime of a bell as he winked his parting wish for our good travel.
Walking further the stones turned to sand and then dunes of sand seemed to pull my feet deeper into a hot beach. I followed Dog on all fours, crawling on my hands and knees. Uncertain of where we were crawling I became attentive to the changing ground under my hands and knees. Heat turned to moisture then coolness. Firm sand became soggy and floppy like lily pads. I was soon floating in cool water from one reed mat to another. I wondered who had woven these strange stepping stones. The function of these floating mats was unclear as they were too fragile to support much weight. Yet they appeared sacred in the wet void. There ahead of me I saw the toad hopping from one perch to the next. I wondered how my weight would be supported on the tiny flat floating steps that supported his slight weight. Then I was gathering them one by one with each reaching stroke of my arm. I was not aware yet that I was no longer swimming in water, but standing in moist sand. Small golden oval leaves gathered at my feet and began to swirl around my toes and ankles. Dawn appeared as a thread of light on the horizon.
"It is yours to use as you need". I looked up startled by the toad's voice and saw the boat he was looking at. It was a small craft of periwinkle blue trimmed in lavender. Suddenly he turned and jumped capturing an entire spider web with spider and prey in his mouth. Turning his head to look back at us one more time, I heard the chime of a bell as he winked his parting wish for our good travel.
posted by Deborah Sproule at
5:11 PM
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