by

Alone – #writephoto

The child stood on the threshold of morn, his gaze to the dawning sky. “I am off to find heaven,” he said and beckoned Friend Wind to wander with him.

Grandfather Sun stretched his ancient fingers across the Earth. “I will light your path, my child.”

Grandmother Moon yawned and dipped her toe into the sea’s blue rim. “Safe journey, my little one. I will greet you at the close of day.”

The child launched his wooden boat. Friend Wind blew taut the sails and laced the waves with seafoam. The whales crooned love songs and mercurial fish glittered like schools of silver coins.

On the distant shore, the child paused where flowers dripped from trees in pink tresses. He traversed bamboo forests while Friend Wind slithered through the narrow leaves with the sound of rain. He climbed the terraced paddies carving the hills like dragon scales, and stood at the precipice where endless rainbows arced from waterfalls and painted the hills in vibrant hues.

And heaven eluded him.

Come the heat of midday, his goal carried him south to the land of pomegranates and tea leaves, and he rode camels beneath the palms. Friend Wind shared a whiff of fragrant spices and blew patterns in the shifting seas of red sand. The child gathered orange daisies in the desert, watched clouds mirrored in salt mines, and cooled his feet in fairy-pools. He hiked pastel hills and serrated shorelines looming over turquoise waters, sandstone pillars, and limestone islands jutting from the sea like fat thumbs.

And heaven eluded him.

In the afternoon, the child knelt at ancient temples, rode swans by the ruins of frosted castles, and climbed in ice caves. He capered with winter foxes in crystal fields of snow that turned into fields of tulips and lavender. He scaled giant redwoods and napped among the buffalo while Friend Wind whispered lonesome music through hollow reeds. In the twilight, he looked down into the canyons carved by water and Friend Wind laughed for he had carved those canyons too.

As the day’s end drew near, the child climbed a stone mountain that rose wondrously high, and his hopes soared. At the top of the bald dome, he looked for heaven and beheld nothing but Grandfather Sun in the mellowing sky. “I have searched the day through, Grandfather, and heaven has eluded me.”

“I have lighted your path,” Grandfather Sun said. “Now is your time to sit alone and reflect on all you’ve seen.”

The child nodded, too well-mannered to complain further. Friend Wind ruffled his hair and drifted down the mountain. Grandfather Sun winked a wise eye, and as he shuffled below the horizon, he dusted the world with gold.

“Little one, did you find heaven?” Grandmother Moon whispered over the child’s shoulder.

“Yes, Grandmother.” The Earth child smiled. “It was beneath my feet all along.”

***

The descriptions in this piece were gathered from looking at photos of the Most Beautiful Places in the World – Link Here. And Here.

Thanks to Sue Vincent for her Thursday #Writephoto Prompt.

161 thoughts on “Alone – #writephoto”

  1. Sulaiman Hafeez says:
    November 3, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Wonderfully written

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Sarah Brentyn says:
    August 21, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    Okay, first, on a selfish note, I’m bummed I missed this writephoto…it’s glorious and full of possibilities. Moving on. I LOVE this story. So much. It reminds me of all the Native American tales I used to read when I was a teen. It’s beautiful and rich. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Purpleanais says:
    August 21, 2017 at 3:04 am

    Just lovely, Diana 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Val Boyko says:
    August 20, 2017 at 5:44 am

    A beautiful touching tale Diana ❣️ The best stories have insights for us to learn from. It’s a wonderful reminder. Thank you 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Alone – SEO says:
    August 19, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    […] via Alone – #writephoto — Myths of the Mirror […]

    Like

  6. Lynz Real Cooking says:
    August 19, 2017 at 1:20 pm

    This imagery is so vivid and warm! love it!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. L. T. Garvin, Author says:
    August 18, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Oh, I love this Diana. Such rich descriptions and such a beautiful circle. I think this should be a children’s book, I’m jus sayin’ with your lovely art work that you do. That’s what I think. Love it, happy writing my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Marietta Rodgers says:
    August 18, 2017 at 8:51 am

    I love this!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Mary J. McCoy-Dressel says:
    August 18, 2017 at 5:57 am

    Fascinating! It was like this picture was taken for the story. Enjoy your weekend, Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. America On Coffee says:
    August 17, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Awe!!! …ahhh!!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Julie Holmes, author says:
    August 17, 2017 at 5:54 am

    You have a wondrous ability to paint the setting with words, Diana! This piece is divine! I could see each of these locations in my mind. What a beautiful tale of discovery. Thank you for sharing such a gem!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 17, 2017 at 6:26 am

      Thanks, Julie. I browsed websites of the “Most Beautiful Places in the World” and tried to incorporate elements of many of them. I’m glad you enjoyed glimpses of the journey. Happy Harvesting…. and Writing!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. roughwighting says:
    August 17, 2017 at 4:45 am

    Ahhh, for some of us, it takes years….and years… to figure out what this little boy realized at the end of his day….

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 17, 2017 at 6:22 am

      So true, Pam. I wish we all realized that we are living in paradise and, therefore, would treat it better. Thanks for journeying with me. I hope you had a fantastic break!

      Like

  13. Jennie says:
    August 17, 2017 at 4:41 am

    This is just wonderful. Wonderful!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. memadtwo says:
    August 17, 2017 at 3:05 am

    The repetition works beautifully here. The circle complete. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Photo prompt round-up – Alone #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo says:
    August 17, 2017 at 2:03 am

    […] D. Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror […]

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Marcia Strykowski says:
    August 16, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Beautiful story! I love this!

    Liked by 1 person

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