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While I was living in China for a year and a half, I heard a few fables and “The Man & the Mountain” was my favorite, not necessarily for the story itself but for the moral. I hope you enjoy my take on this fable.
Unlike all of my other works which are children’s books, this one is for an older audience. I will likely never publish this book but if I were too, I wouldn’t do so under my pen name.
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The Mouse & the Immovable Mountain
On the rim of an island crater,
A large mountain stretched high into the air.
It loomed over the island’s deep center.
Only its somber shadow could enter.
Every day was a dismal day of night,
Every day except one, the Day of Light.
Though the desolate valley was deprived,
Generations of steadfast mice survived.
Elder’s wisdom they held in high regard.
All stayed together, and all worked hard.
But one among them always worked extra
A strong-willed, patient girl named Petra.
#
Years ago, Petra built a mighty hill.
Year after year, she’d make it taller still
On the Days of Light, she’d feel the warm glow first
Extra drops of light for her year-long thirst.
One year, on a Day of Light so fateful,
Petra brought the children atop her hill.
Down the mountain, fiery fog poured in.
The Day of Light was about to begin.
From the summit emerged a golden trace.
It fell into the children’s warm embrace.
Sun trickled down past the foot of the hill.
With fervor and light, the valley began to fill.
The frost covered ground shimmered like diamonds.
Bright colors sprouted as flowers blossomed.
Their sweet scent swept across the open air.
Birds’ songs reverberated everywhere.
A waterfall burst to life from within
Casting its rainbow across the heavens.
The children forgot all the days of night,
That is for but a moment.
The dark, murky sky had thickened.
Light had come to an abrupt end.
With their heads down low, all retreated home.
All except one, Petra who stood alone.
She searched the skies, then climbed down the hill.
She packed her things and bid the town farewell.
#
After trekking across the frigid plain,
She approached the foot of her lifelong bane.
Petra stood tall before the goliath
Knowing full well what she’d contend with.
Staring at the mountain face, she did not flinch.
She didn’t step back, not even an inch.
Driven by her absolute malcontent,
She took a step and began her ascent.
Facing forward, she never looked upward
And focused only on the coming yard.
Step after step, storm after bitter storm,
Her body was battered and utterly worn.
Keeping the ultimate goal in her mind,
Her burning passion refused to be confined.
Yard after yard, she continued to strain
Until finally, no yards remained.
Reaching the top, Petra fell to her knees.
Her labored body had found its release.
She basked in the moment and in the sun,
Then carved something onto a piece of stone.
With tremendous force, she struck the mountain.
She grabbed the broken object and threw it in the ocean.
For the rest of the day, she persisted.
At night, she lit a fire burning red.
A boy sat on Petra’s hill down below.
A light in the darkness, he saw a glow.
Every night, the young boy would climb and wait.
The need for hope, the fire helped to sate.
Many days before the next Day of Light,
The fire left. Darkness returned to night.
#
Days after, on the hill, the boy had slept.
When he awoke, he saw Petra and wept.
Others down below saw Petra and the child.
They gathered together around the hill.
Then, for one fleeting moment, the sun shined bright.
The two became glowing beacons of light.
Looking down the hill, Petra began to shout,
“We have just witnessed that which can be done.
Who will join in breaking apart this mountain?”
Then from within the crowd, a voice cried out,
“Break the mountain? For what? A little light?
No, we will never win this futile fight.”
From atop the hill, Petra replied.
“Our fight is not against the mountain.
Within our lifetime, it will not be gone.
Our fight is to begin a legacy
One where future generations are free.
Those after us will take up the mantle
Until this mountain is reduced to nil.”
The boy looked up with hope and smiled at her.
Petra picked him up onto her shoulder.
Together, children rose up from the crowd.
Atop their parents’ shoulders, they stood proud.
#
Generations passed. No mountain remains,
Only crystal water and lush terrain.
A small hill is the only remnant known,
A small hill with words carved onto a stone:
“When the unstoppable force strikes,
The unmovable object breaks.”
– Petra
THE END
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