Summer and rainbows go together...
This week, Enchanted Conversation presents two tales that feature the beauty of rainbows.
This week, Enchanted Conversation presents two tales that feature the beauty of rainbows.
Dark Bat, Bright Bat retold by C.L. Clickard
and
When Indigo Left the Rainbow by Carmen Redondo
We hope you enjoy them and share your thoughts
with the authors of these tales in the comments section below.
In the time when animals spoke and we remembered to listen,
there was no animal uglier than Bat.
Coconut palms cradled chattering higuaca birds.
Waterfalls welcomed the heron’s dance.
Tiny humming guani fluttered in the golden vines.
But Bat huddled alone in the shadows
loved by no one.
On a morning, shimmering green and hot,
Bat swooped to the hut of Yaya
the great creator.
“See, how my wings are bent with cold
and my back is slick from rain?
I want a fine warm coat of feathers!”
Yaya had no feathers left in his basket.
“I will borrow one feather from each of your brothers.”
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
Ruffling his new coat,
Bat swooped over the forest.
“No one can call me ugly now!”
Each day,
after the sun soaked up the afternoon rain,
Bat soared and swirled through the clouds.
And the sky echoed his colors
All the forest stopped to admire Bat’s new skin.
He peered down at his brothers’ gaping bills and beaks.
“Look at the holes in your coats!” Bat smirked.
“None of you is as beautiful as I am now!”
Click. Clack. Bills and beaks snapped shut.
“We did not give our feathers
so that he could brag!”
With a squawk and a snort
the birds flew to Yaya’s hut
“Bat makes fun of us,” they complained.
“And we miss our feathers!”
Yaya stirred his cook pot.
“I hear you little brothers.”
The next day Bat swooped across the sky.
He swelled his chest
shook his wings
and PLOOF!
A rain of feathers fell on the forest.
“Noooooooooo!”
All that day, while the sun
smiled down on the forest
Bat huddled in his cave,
covering his nakedness with shadow.
When the sun fell asleep that night
Bat darted over the treetops
searching for his lost feathers.
He’s looking for them still.
But the only one who remembers
Bat’s beautiful feathered coat
is the sky after a midday rain.
there was no animal uglier than Bat.
Coconut palms cradled chattering higuaca birds.
Waterfalls welcomed the heron’s dance.
Tiny humming guani fluttered in the golden vines.
But Bat huddled alone in the shadows
loved by no one.
On a morning, shimmering green and hot,
Bat swooped to the hut of Yaya
the great creator.
“See, how my wings are bent with cold
and my back is slick from rain?
I want a fine warm coat of feathers!”
Yaya had no feathers left in his basket.
“I will borrow one feather from each of your brothers.”
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
Ruffling his new coat,
Bat swooped over the forest.
“No one can call me ugly now!”
Each day,
after the sun soaked up the afternoon rain,
Bat soared and swirled through the clouds.
And the sky echoed his colors
All the forest stopped to admire Bat’s new skin.
He peered down at his brothers’ gaping bills and beaks.
“Look at the holes in your coats!” Bat smirked.
“None of you is as beautiful as I am now!”
Click. Clack. Bills and beaks snapped shut.
“We did not give our feathers
so that he could brag!”
With a squawk and a snort
the birds flew to Yaya’s hut
“Bat makes fun of us,” they complained.
“And we miss our feathers!”
Yaya stirred his cook pot.
“I hear you little brothers.”
The next day Bat swooped across the sky.
He swelled his chest
shook his wings
and PLOOF!
A rain of feathers fell on the forest.
“Noooooooooo!”
All that day, while the sun
smiled down on the forest
Bat huddled in his cave,
covering his nakedness with shadow.
When the sun fell asleep that night
Bat darted over the treetops
searching for his lost feathers.
He’s looking for them still.
But the only one who remembers
Bat’s beautiful feathered coat
is the sky after a midday rain.
Carrie L. Clickard is an internationally published author and poet. Her books include MAGIC FOR SALE (Holiday House, 2017), DUMPLING DREAMS (Simon and Schuster 2017), VICTRICIA MALICIA (Flashlight Press) and the forthcoming THOMAS JEFFERSON & THE MAMMOTH HUNT (Simon and Schuster, 2019). Her poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and periodicals including Andromeda Spaceways, Havok, Myriad Lands, Spellbound, Penumbra, Muse, Haiku of the Dead and Underneath the Juniper Tree.
You can learn more about Carrie & her work at www.clclickard.com.
Cover: Amanda Bergloff
The seven spirits came together as always to create a rainbow. When Mother Sky told them that a rainbow was in order for Earth, they listened and glided along the clouds. Red led the way followed by Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Far below, humans glanced up to the heavens, admiring the glorious rainbow.
As they flew in place, holding their position next to Mother Sky’s guidance, Indigo looked down at the Earth. He often wondered what it would be like to live among the humans. Suddenly, mother told them their task was finished for now, and the siblings dispersed, ending the rainbow.
Indigo flew to his mother and spoke of his wish to join the humans. He asked for a way to live below on Earth. She pondered the matter with Father Sun and together decided to allow their son’s request. Indigo was to take the form of a young man and live among the humans for one year.
Before he left she said to him, “Indigo, you will learn the significance of why you create rainbows with your brothers and sisters. When you return, you will have gained wisdom.”
With this spoken, he became human. Indigo found a home with an elderly couple and worked all day among their field, as payment for a room and food. He learned what physical labor meant, often chopping wood under the warmth of Father Sun up above.
One evening after the rain, he saw a rainbow. The kind man he lived with squinted up, his many wrinkles forming creases that signified days of happiness and sorrow. His wife was also looking up to the sky, which made Indigo curious to find out what they were thinking.
“Excuse me,” Indigo asked, “Do you like the rainbow?”
The wise woman smiled and said, “Well, it is something remarkable. My husband and I like to think of it as a reminder that life is very precious. It also makes you forget about your troubles, if you have any. I will say though, it seems as if a color is missing lately, but my eyes are not what they used to be after all.”
Indigo nodded in silence. He had never thought of his job in that way. He always thought that rainbows were merely created to look beautiful, and nothing else.
From then on, he kept gaining knowledge as his mother said he would. He enjoyed every second of his time on Earth, until the year was over and he returned to his home. United with his family, he discovered a respect for the immortal requirement of creating rainbows. Each time he flew next to his siblings, he hoped humans below were glancing up and feeling an ease to their burdens, if only for a moment.
As they flew in place, holding their position next to Mother Sky’s guidance, Indigo looked down at the Earth. He often wondered what it would be like to live among the humans. Suddenly, mother told them their task was finished for now, and the siblings dispersed, ending the rainbow.
Indigo flew to his mother and spoke of his wish to join the humans. He asked for a way to live below on Earth. She pondered the matter with Father Sun and together decided to allow their son’s request. Indigo was to take the form of a young man and live among the humans for one year.
Before he left she said to him, “Indigo, you will learn the significance of why you create rainbows with your brothers and sisters. When you return, you will have gained wisdom.”
With this spoken, he became human. Indigo found a home with an elderly couple and worked all day among their field, as payment for a room and food. He learned what physical labor meant, often chopping wood under the warmth of Father Sun up above.
One evening after the rain, he saw a rainbow. The kind man he lived with squinted up, his many wrinkles forming creases that signified days of happiness and sorrow. His wife was also looking up to the sky, which made Indigo curious to find out what they were thinking.
“Excuse me,” Indigo asked, “Do you like the rainbow?”
The wise woman smiled and said, “Well, it is something remarkable. My husband and I like to think of it as a reminder that life is very precious. It also makes you forget about your troubles, if you have any. I will say though, it seems as if a color is missing lately, but my eyes are not what they used to be after all.”
Indigo nodded in silence. He had never thought of his job in that way. He always thought that rainbows were merely created to look beautiful, and nothing else.
From then on, he kept gaining knowledge as his mother said he would. He enjoyed every second of his time on Earth, until the year was over and he returned to his home. United with his family, he discovered a respect for the immortal requirement of creating rainbows. Each time he flew next to his siblings, he hoped humans below were glancing up and feeling an ease to their burdens, if only for a moment.
Carmen Redondo loves fantasy and fairy tales, which are elements she often includes in her writing. She loves reading a good book, watching a new movie, warm weather, and eating pizza.
You can follow her on Twitter: @storieswriting
Cover: Amanda Bergloff
