‘Tis the SEASON to……BELIEVE.
You may recall from a previous blog—or two—that I’m working on a children’s book series. So…fairly often, my thoughts tune-in to those stories “dancing like sugar plums” in my head. This season of Christmas and Hanukkah cheer is no different, especially as I realize that my great-grandchildren are “aging” rapidly. So it is that I’ve gone to the bookstore shelves and selected two of my favorite storybooks—written by other authors—to share with them on Christmas Eve.
The theme or technique I most enjoy in storybooks is when writers personify animals, allowing them to offer a perspective that children easily grasp and “grownups” might have lost the capacity to imagine. This Friday-before-Christmas, I offer you one more story—a legend really—a bit of generational tradition-telling reminiscent of Native American oral-histories—written by yours truly for all my children—author/clients included.
THAT NIGHT a handsome Nubian Ibex—Samuel—stood on the high point of a knoll watching the shepherds and their flocks in the rock-strewn meadow below. His masked friend, Barney Owl, was restless and had just circled his favorite perching-tree for a third time. With a twist of his large antlers and a twitch of his tail, Samuel signaled to Barney, What bothers you, friend? With a flutter of wings and a high pitched shriek, Barney gave the warning: A crackling is in the air—the heavens are about to open. Samuel lifted his head and sniffed the cold air. He shook his huge antlers and pawed at the ground sending the message: There’s no hint of rain.
At that very moment a brilliant light removed the darkness from the night and rainbow spears of sound filled the air! Voices of thundering melody fell upon their ears waking every living creature. An announcement was being made—in every language of creation. “The Babe is born! Your King has come! He sleeps in Bethlehem; the earth is now His home.”
The shepherds fell to knees and hands; and sheep scattered the rocks and sand. Barney Owl flew to Samuel’s back, marching to-and-fro; pushing him to GO!
The unseen singing voices raised to higher pitch, then softened to mellow notes as Samuel blinked. And so they went—Samuel with friend Barney Owl—followed by squirrel, and mouse and racing deer—wooly sheep, goats and gazelle—and bevies of beautiful birds flying at all altitudes. They seemed to be dancing to the crescendo of voices—voices that vaulted from meadow to mountain tops.
Then they were there—in the Presence of the King—a wee-tiny Babe wiggling to see. It was brave Michael Mouse who first touched His Hand. The whole of the gathering pulled in a deep breath. Then Hoopie, the bird, let go a melodious coo-oo—that started everyone singing in words they never knew. The language of humans came from their throats—as the Babe laughed and giggled with each new note.
This One Night when Light came to earth—brought a gift to animals of every kind—voices to use and words to speak—in Praise of their King—their Creator and Friend. Their harmony soared with the Angels of Heaven—then softened to humming as the Babe’s eyes closed.
One tear was then seen in the eye of the Owl. He knew this gift would fade at sunrise. “Samuel,” Owl whispered in the Ibexes’ ear. “Let us all stay here—and sing while we can—so this miracle will be passed forward in the memory of man.”
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ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward. |
