Natura

I know of a magnificent lady with a most dazzling countenance. Her eyes twinkle like the stars of night and she has a beautiful pendant around her neck that glows like the moon, and grows like it too.

Her hair is a magnificent azure with touches of a sparkling white. It is long and full, and she veils its splendour only in the night time when the Earth slumbers.

Her lovely robe is a lush green and a splendid blue. So glorious is she that she is crowned with the very rainbow.

Her name is Natura.

She was a good queen, whose character equalled her beauty. All marveled at her kindness and benevolence.

She was most loving to her subject, man. She was ever generous to him. She showered him with abundance of food, good weather, shelter and everything he craved. He never lacked.

Man never had to ask. The ever watchful queen was aware of his every need even before he spoke. She never hesitated to give him the things he craved.

Man had all Natura's gift to himself. Natura gave him more with the hope that her subject would love her as much as she loved him.

Unfortunately, the more she gave, the more man wanted.

Man was no longer satisfied with feeding from Natura's garden. He wanted to grow his food himself. This displeased Natura whose one goal was to see to his complete comfort. In spite of that, she consented.

Suddenly, man was discontent with Natura's fruits. He wanted to eat of the creatures in Natura's garden. Natura grew unhappy at this. She had reserved those creatures for the beautification of her garden and the companionship of man. Man must not eat his friends.

In her benevolence, she denied him not, although it wounded her.

At last, man grew defiant. He would not listen to Natura and would not abide in her garden anymore. He would wander the Earth in search of adventure.

With a sigh, Natura said in a voice as beautiful as the wind, "I have been kind to man from the beginning. I have given him all my comfort and love and care believing it would draw him closer to me. I have seen the outcome of my generosity.

"Still, I will grant his request. I will give him freedom to live as he desires. I give to him not with a heart of bitter malice, but with one of doting and affection. He shall learn to love me of his own freewill, not of my own command, although I be his queen.

"As I give, I take away too. From the Earth I shall take away abundance. The Earth shall no longer thrive with riches all the time. Now there shall be seasons, that the cravings of man may be satisfied, but only when the time is right."

Natura did as she said and soon sent man out of her garden to pursue his desires. It hurt her that her love should be repaid in such a manner. Still, she loved her subject. Still, she followed him on his journey, blessing him with undeserved gifts and patient love with the hope that she would one day draw him back to her garden.

Finis.