tim
2004-07-26, 04:54
Below the surface of a quiet pond lived a happy colony of waterbugs. For many months they were busy, but they noticed that sometimes one of them lost interest in going about with friends, and, climbing the stem of a pond lily, would soon be seen no more.
"Where do you suppose they go?" they wondered. Though puzzled, no one knew. One of the water bugs said, "I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where they went and why." Everyone promised.
Not long afterwards the water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Soon he had broken through the surface of the water onto the broad lily pad above.
He looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself above the water.
He had become a dragonfly. Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. he felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. Soon the new dragonfly, landing on a lily pad to rest, chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. He was right above his old friends, the water bugs, who were still scurrying around.
Then the dragonfly remembered the promise. Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down, hitting the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water...
"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "I tried, but I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went."
And the dragonfly winged of happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air...
Dear God, please remember all those who have left the pond we live in...and remember me...
"Where do you suppose they go?" they wondered. Though puzzled, no one knew. One of the water bugs said, "I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where they went and why." Everyone promised.
Not long afterwards the water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Soon he had broken through the surface of the water onto the broad lily pad above.
He looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself above the water.
He had become a dragonfly. Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. he felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. Soon the new dragonfly, landing on a lily pad to rest, chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. He was right above his old friends, the water bugs, who were still scurrying around.
Then the dragonfly remembered the promise. Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down, hitting the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water...
"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "I tried, but I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went."
And the dragonfly winged of happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air...
Dear God, please remember all those who have left the pond we live in...and remember me...