Slate to Salmon

Slate to Salmon
Somebody said: If you really believe in it you will reach it. Live in total seclusion for some time, stop, above all, thinking. Perseverance and Concentration on this one thing is what you need. Ban everything else from your head. Finally you need to go through a state of purgation which involves abstention from food and drink. The moment you stand the test your wish will be granted.

I knew about a holy place where some old women would go to when they had a wish and headed its direction. When I got there I cut a piece of white cloth that carried the banner of piety to ribbons and tied one piece round my right wrist. After that I took a small piece of smooth slate and rubbed it against another one for a few seconds and then pressed it hard on the surface of a much bigger one and waited until it could hold on its own. Unfortunately my first attempt failed for after a minute the small slate fell down and broke. I took a smoother piece and pressed it as hard as I could without moving my hand until it held solid as a rock.

The door of the cottage opened and I entered quietly. There was only one room with nothing inside except a slate bed which you could either sit or sleep on. Sun light could penetrate a little bit so it was not completely dark during the day. I sat down and fixed my gaze on a distant place. This went on for sometime and I lost a lot of weight. Maybe it was only one week or two but I noticed there was some change in me. Not only my stomach was emptying but my mind was emptying as well as if I had taken some kind of drug with a cleansing effect. Two days later when my mind was blanching a flash of light invaded the room and dazzled my eyes. I understood the message which it carried with it: it is time now, say your wish:

My lips parted slowly and I started whispering: Please turn me into salmon. My voice was trembling but then the whispering changed to a clear voice. I added: I don’t want to be a bird. I know I would enjoy flying but I wouldn’t be able to stay in the air for ever for birds have to land again. I have lived on land some time now. I want to go back to water. Please water is my home.

I knew I was born in fresh water but I found myself with the others already in the ocean on our way to fresh water again or back to the exact spot where we were born. It was a very long and stressful journey when swimming against the current and climbing the salmon ladder. I knew there were a lot of dangerous species on our way but then I thought: it can’t be more dangerous than on Land. No body will eat a salmon dying of exhaustion nor would I care if I were eaten.

Jamshid
Bremen, 04 May 2007

Rate the article
Bad	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Very good
Result : 100%							Participated in the vote : 1