It’s time once again for
The Unicorn Challenge;
this is my contribution.
🦢
There’s nothing quite as poignant as the sight of a dying swan, when her beauty wanes like that of faded silken cloth.
A life of such magnificence she leads, dressed in only the most majestic and royal of attire, bestowed so easily by nature while other breeds look so ordinary in comparison.
Confident in her beauty, she floats like a downy queen; she renders no judgement on the world nor assumes a superior attitude. Hers is a graceful, peaceful existence.
She rises above the tumult and silently, in a sweetly romantic character, will she take to heart a mate for all her life. No other and never another will she need, for they are soulmates of the seas.
With wings and elegant necks entwined, they swim the waters together, no fear, no discord. In unison they fly with wings of angels, ever one with the other.
The finches and skylarks in admiration glance down from the trees and sing to the beauty of the swans.
Their love comes to fruition; their cygnets hatch like tiny balls of feathered fluff.
But now the song of the swan is almost over, come full cycle but far too soon for her mate has fallen victim to the fisherman’s nets and weights and has been dragged unceremoniously to the depths of the lake.
Now she is alone with only a broken heart until the time comes for her to rest and in silence she will close her eyes for one long and final sleep.
NAR © 2023
250 words
This is “The Swan/Le Cygne” by Camille Saint-Saens
Sad but beautifully written.
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Thank you, Dawn.
You never know what
an image will conjure up 🦢
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You really don’t.
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So heart touching! Swansong in action. Swans are lovely waterbirds, and I like them.
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They are very beautiful; I love to see them swimming together.
Thanks so much for your comments, KK.
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A beautiful story and a beautiful choice of music, and when reading the story with the music in the background one’s heart sits in witness with both of your swans. This was very good.
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Thank you, Michael.
I’m delighted that you chose to listen
to the music while reading the story.
That was my hope and you realized it.
Thanks for leaving a thoughtful comment.
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I should thank you for the Saint-Saens.
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My pleasure but all the thanks goes to Saint-Saens. 🦢
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There are several swans in the park across the road from me. I love it when they face each other close up and their necks form a heart shape!
On a sad note, a couple of years ago some cruel lads slaughtered one. The following day its partner disappeared, never to be seen again.
Thank you for a beautiful musical interlude.
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How can “people” be so vicious? I’ll never understand such cruelty. That is such a sad story. Those ‘lads’ you mentioned …. they are the real animals, along with everyone else who abuses any living thing. There’s a special place in hell for abusers. Zero tolerance.
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It always comes down to it. The beauty and devotion dies/fails alone from the cruelty of human design.
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Whether intentionally or by accident, yes …. this is the case. It’s a very sad situation.
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A lovely contribution
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Thanks so much, Glyn!
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Beautifully conceived and delivered, Nancy. Would that I could send some of our unique black swans to lead the mourning. https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/black-swan/ On a lighter note, for all their perceived serenity, under the water they’re paddling as hard as they can go.
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Thanks for that fabulous link, Doug, and for your lovely comments.
I especially enjoyed you last line; aren’t we all at times paddling for our lives?
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Indeed.
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Lovely N., even the sad end. They do mate for life, and protect each other and their babies as well.
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Thanks, D!
They certainly are a natural work of art!
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“for they are soulmates of the seas.”❤️🥹
The end made me sad.💔
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It made me sad, too.
Thanks, Melissa. 🦢
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Delightful piece, Green Eyes, superb evocation of the life of one of Nature’s wonders.
You might like this to accompany the tragic ending:
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My goodness, Blue!
I haven’t heard that song in ages!
Thanks for your comment and the reminder.
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Such a life-affirming story, beautifully told, Nancy.
And the music is wonderful.
I’m blissed out here. thank you.
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Glad to know you enjoyed both the story and the music.
Thank you! It is rather blissful, isn’t it?
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You have written a lovely piece. The beauty of the life of a swan. To me it is neither happy nor sad.
I can imagine you writing a book – perhaps for children – about many other animals … describing their lives. Nothing make believe – all factual – but treating them with compassion and respect.
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What a lovely comment, Sighs! I’m so glad you enjoyed the life of the swan and did not focus on the sadness of death. I have zero tolerance for abusers of any sort. Living creatures who want nothing more in life than to be loved and in turn to offer unconditional love …. we call them animals but the beastly animal is really the abuser.
Thank you for your thoughts today.
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Wow, Nancy. This is masterfully penned.
~David
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Thank you, dear David.
I was moved, not only by the photo
but by the music of Saint-Saens. 🦢
Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday!
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A very moving story Nancy. 🥲
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Thank you, Sadje.
Swans are such elegent creatures, don’t you think?
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For sure they are, though they aren’t very common where I live.
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Even better when you spot one!
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Very right. We can go to a zoo to see one
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