Short Story

LE CYGNE

The Sicilian Storyteller

It’s time once again for
The Unicorn Challenge;
this is my contribution.
🦢

© Ayr/Gray

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

The Unicorn Challenge-08/12/23

This is “The Swan/Le Cygne” by Camille Saint-Saens

35 thoughts on “LE CYGNE”

  4. 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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    1. 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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  12. 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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    1. 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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