A
TALE ABOUT FEELINGS
Translated from Lithuanian
by GLORIA O’BRIEN
One day, long, long
ago, all of people’s sensations had a meeting.
After Boredom had
yawned for the third time, Folly suggested:
“Perhaps we should play “Hide and Seek”?
Intrigue, one eyebrow raised, asked: “Hide and Seek? What sort of game
is that”? Folly explained, that one of them would be
the game’s leader. He would cover his eyes and count to one million, while the
others hid themselves. The last one found would be the winner, and the leader
of the next game.
Enthusiasm
immediately took Euphoria by the hand and began a joyful dance.
Happiness then
began a dance that almost convinced Doubts. But nothing was sufficiently
interesting to Apathy, who declined to join in the game. Truth decided that she
wouldn’t hide anywhere, as she would always be found out anyway. Arrogance
stated that this game was stupid, and nothing there was at all interesting,
except perhaps for himself. Cowardice didn’t want to take
a risk.
One, two, three …..
Folly began the count. First to hide was Laziness, who simply lay down behind
the nearest rock. Faith rose to the heavens, and Envy hid in the shadow of
Triumph, who
was powerful enough to climb to the top of the highest hill. Courtesy wasn’t
able to hide for a long time, as each good place he found seemed to be just
right for one of his friends. Beauty hid in a crystal-clear stream, and
Cowardice, in the hollow of a tree. Freedom hid inside a sunbeam. Egotism found
what he considered a particularly warm and convenient spot. Falsehood hid in
the depths of the sea (but in truth – in a rainbow). Passion hid in a volcanic
crater. Forgetfulness couldn’t remember its hiding place, but that was not at
all important. When Folly had counted 999,999, Love was still looking for a
hiding place, but every place was taken.
One million! – said
Folly, and began the search. Laziness was first to be found. Then, Folly heard
the voice of Faith, arguing with God. Passion was given away by the volcano’s
tremor. When Folly found Envy’s hiding place, she knew she had found Triumph as
well. It wasn’t necessary to look for Egotism, as he had hidden in a beehive,
and the bees themselves evicted him.
Folly was weary,
and wanting to drink from a crystal stream, she found Beauty.
Doubts were sitting
against a fence, and were still unable to decide, which side of the fence they
should hide behind.
All were found:
Talent - in a
luxuriant green meadow, Boredom – in a dark cavern, Falsehood – in a rainbow
(but in truth he hid in the depths of the sea).
Only Love was
nowhere to be found. Folly searched for her behind every tree, in each stream,
on every hilltop. Until finally, she thought to look in a
rosebush. When she moved a branch, she heard a cry – the thorns of the
rosebush had painfully pierced Love’s eyes.
Folly was frightened, didn’t know what to do, and crying, apologized
profusely. Trying to assuage her guilt,
she promised from then
on to always be Love’s escort.
Ever since that
time, when the world saw the first playing of the game of Hide and Seek, Love
has been blind and Folly always leads her by the hand.
Source:
An untraced E-Mail message in Lithuanian,
from somewhere in
© English Translation - Gloria O’Brien - 2007
This
article was printed in Bridges April 2007