Thursday, May 22, 2014

Carpe Diem #474, Valley (Aboriginal Legend from Down Under)


Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

What a joyful day it is today ... I may prepare another wonderful prompt, Valley, for you all. This prompt is referring to a wonderful Aboriginal Legend which I will share later on in this post, but first I will give you a little update for our upcoming month June.
As my plan was I would like to prepare another wonderful list with inspirational music and I will still do that, but first in June I will introduce the young Portugese Composer BrunuhVille in the CD-Specials. BrunuhVille has composed wonderful music and his music is very inspirational. The other prompts of June will be all modern kigo (seasonwords)for summer based on Jane Reichhold's "A Dictionary of Haiku", as we have done in April 2014. I hope you all will not be "angry" with me for changing my plans.

Back to our Aboriginal Story of today. It's about Three Sisters, Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, and the story refers to three Mountain peeks in the "Blue Mountains" ...

Credits: The Three Sisters in the Blue Moutains
Here is the story:

The Three Sisters an Aboriginal Legend of Down Under

Three sisters, Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo had a father who was a witch doctor. His name was Tyawan.
Long ago there was a Bunyip who lived in a deep hole who was feared by all. Passing the hole was considered very dangerous, therefore whenever Tyawan had to pass the hole in search for food, he would leave his daughters safely on the cliff behind a rocky wall.
One fateful day, Tyawan waved goodbye to his daughters and descended down the cliff steps into the valley.
Meanwhile at the top of the cliff, Meenhi was frightened by a large centipede which suddenly appeared before her. Meenhi took a stone and threw it at the centipede. The stone continued on its journey and rolled over the cliff, crashing into the valley below which angered the Bunyip.
The rocky wall behind Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo then began to split open and the three sisters were left stranded on a thin ledge at the top of the cliff. All the birds, animals and fairies stopped still as the Bunyip emerged to see the terrified girls. As the Bunyip began to approach the girls, to protect them from harm, their father Tyawan used his magic bone to turn them into stone. Angered by this, the Bunyip then began to chase Tyawan. Becoming trapped, in order to flee from the Bunyip, Tyawan changed into a magnificent Lyre Bird, yet in the process dropped his magic bone. Tyawan and his three daughters were now safe from the Bunyip.
Once the Bunyip had disappeared, Tyawan returned in search of his magic bone, yet this was never to be found. The Lyre Bird has been searching for this magic bone ever since. Remaining in rock formation, The Three Sisters stand silently overlooking the valley hoping that one day he'll find the bone and turn them back to former selves.
 
Credits: View over the Blue Mountains in the left corner the Three Sisters

When visiting The Three Sisters, if you listen carefully you may be able to hear the Lyre Bird, Tyawan, as he continues his quest for his lost magic bone.
What a wonderful story don't you think so too? I like those Aboriginal legends a lot and I cannot wait to tell you another one next day, as our prompt will be, Shallow Water. I hope this legend inspires you to write haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka or haibun and I hope you will share them with us all here at our haiku-family. Here is my haiku inspired on the story of The Three Sisters ...
pillar of salt
"don't look back" Kaïn said.
longing for home
longing for home
the Three Sisters still waiting -
Lyre Bird will come
Lyre Bird will come
freeing his beloved daughters -
the quest will end
© Chèvrefeuille
Well ... it's up to you my dear Haijin, visitors and travelers ... I have done my part ... This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 25th at noon. I will try to post our new episode, Shallow Water, later on today. For now ... have fun!
 
 

3 comments:

  1. I'm sure the change is fine! So much work went into your myths and legends month. I found it tough, very, but also very interesting. Those who are with you are not going anywhere and represent the buds of next season's haiku.
    Incredible formula you have. Frankly it is college level stuff and creative writing courses should include participation here in their curriculum.

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  2. How could we be angry, Kristjaan? You haven't led us astray yet.
    Eagerly looking forward to June --

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  3. Thank you Jen and Managua for your kind words.

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