Phoenix
by Dale J. Sprague
Flash Fiction
The Sylph'id
-for L.P.
Once, within a quiet meadow, within a flourishing meadow, there lived a sylph'id, an individual who lives in constant reaction to all else that moves around them. And this particular individual was different from all else, living as sylph'ids do...a dark body within, appearing to have no soul
Flighty and fickle this one always seemed, and enraptured with all life, she lived seemingly without a Will of her own. Thus living within the ethers of a dream world and being very much in isolation, nights were alive as days
And having been cared for, long ago by those of great dignity, she grew innocently to wear a pendant around her neck, being taught that this amulet embodies the supreme wisdom of life. So, this pendant always remained with her, through day and night. But she knew not, how heavily burdened she truly was
This sylph'id lived upon the ground, around all other earthen floor dwellers. Within the spaces of her imaginations, and aside her sleeping heart she lived, because adorned with the pendant of ultimate wisdom keeps mind separate from heart. Upon the earthen floor, this sylph'id lived joyfully with all the others, liking them all simply for what they are. Nevertheless, she remained alone. Yet, in the beginning, she noticed this not. Abuses she received, she quickly forgot
In time, as time seasons her love for all that lives, she began to wonder why she is treated different from all else that lives. All around her regarded her as something more curious than familiar. And one day, inevitably, a heavy sadness emerged within her, because the spirit of her love, the warmness of the sun, the fresh fragrance and color of blossoms had somehow left her, and with the heavy pendant weighing heavier, she sought solace in a nearby arbor
With difficulty, she labored to ascend the tree, just to reach an outreaching arm of this quiet dream'state, that she, cannot also but be..to find a place where she can rest apart from all else that lives..to ponder within the sadness she feels, remembering before, life always giving, one new feeling and joy after another. The gleaming sun was always bright. The fresh meadow ponds, always a delight. And all the living upon the earthen floor, she loved with her deepest fondness, but they, though liking her light hearted spirit, could not truly understand the depths of her, nor the awkwardness of her, and could not know her therefore, except as one who is but a transient spirit
Thereby, in as much as she knew great fun and long play, she wondered if, afterall, "Had she truly lived deeply enough? Is this all there is?" Upon an arbor branch, she rested from her labor of ascension, watching all far below her so deeply involved in each other. Nowhere to go, no one to be, she yearned to be free in some way, to live as any around her live. She looked to the earthen floor that she knew so well before..knowing now, there is no way that she can return, to the world she loved so dearly. Upon this arbor arm she felt, she will forever be, to remain still from the inside looking out, watching all else living freely, it seemed, within their sovereign ways, within their many spirits of taking and giving
For a long time, she had worn the pendant of supreme wisdom, feeling that with it, she would always be able to freely give and be given to freely. Yet, unknowingly to her, the pendant being worn so much, was ready to fall by its own inherent fault. And when it broke and began its fall, in her dispair, she felt unworthy to bear the weight of so much knowledge, unable to apply it for all those she loved. The amulet fell to the earthen floor, to all that she loves and cares for, and with that end, she feels deeply tired, needing deep rest from deep sorrow
Such is the end of sylph'ids...those who live seemingly without a soul. Yet, to emerge from them is something wondrous to behold. This sylph'id within her dark sleep, soon lost her grasp upon the arbor arm. To the earthen floor, she started to fall to the world she loves, only to suddenly awake! amid the ethers of creation, and catch the wind as her heart knew how..now no longer sad, to deploy her wings, she never knew she had, and begin to live