3. Trouble in AiryLand
Then there was the day back then when Trouble was afoot -
Trouble was the other flame whose base was black with soot.
Not as pure as our friendly man’s, but it operated much the same
Except it lacked a pure intention, which is why it was a blackened flame.
The sound of laughing children caught his ear as he ambled by,
The haziness of midday clouds was pleasant on his eye.
So he turned towards the children as he whistled a little tune,
Hands behind his back as his feet sank into the dunes.
Behind him moved the ocean, before him lay the land
Above him hung the hazy sky and below him squeaked the sand.
All was well in Airy Land, the day was half-complete
And he was looking forward to the new journey at his feet.
Despite his slight of build and his innocence of mind,
The friendly man was not afraid of anything he might find.
For he knew he had the flame - it was always somewhere there -
And sometimes it surprised him by being everywhere.
So he topped the sandy dune and saw the kids at play,
Laughing as they ran around heading every which way.
He stood atop the dune a while and smiled as he observed
The children in their element - the very least that they deserved.
But then he felt uneasiness - unknown in Airy Land -
First he felt it in the air, then he felt it in the sand.
He saw the children hesitate and look at him in fear
For they thought that he was evil and that thought made him shed a tear.
As the children backed away, one child called to him
Saying he must go away for his evil would not win.
And, picking up a stone to throw, the child threw it straight
Which caused the man to raise his hands to shield him from this hate.
But while the stone was airborne he smiled and dropped his hands
For all of this was all of his - it was his Airy Land.
And immediately the child became a blackened little flame.
There was nothing there but Trouble, and this was nothing but a game.
The stone became a flying bird and the blackened flame a tree.
The kids once more came forward and ran about playfully.
The man came running down the dune to join them in their fun
And his flame became a butterfly which flitted in the sun.
All this goes to show is how a man can be accused
Of being what he isn’t and how goodness can be used
To achieve the ends of evil in the face of all that’s good
And how easily it can succeed if we all believe it could.
The friendly man in Airy Land had faith in all his dreams
And that was all he needed then - no matter how it seems.
Once more he left the scene behind and went about his way.
The hazy clouds now crimson and the sunny skies now grey.
At peace he was once more with life, his flame back in his hand.
At peace with all his world around - at peace with AiryLand.
SJ
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