Her Two Cents
Jostein Gaarder is one of my favorite authors and I’m currently reading one of his more recent books, The Castle in the Pyrenees. It’s a thoughtful story told via email messages between two middle-aged characters, male and female, who last saw each other 30 years prior when a mysteriously traumatic event caused their romantic relationship to end. In true Gaarder fashion, it probes all the sticky areas about our beliefs – spiritual, scientific, and other-worldly. Part of the story takes place in Småland, a historical province in southern Sweden. I was familiar with the word Småland, as Dark Småland is the title of my favorite Instruments recording, but I honestly didn’t know it was a real place! In the Småland scene there are two swans swimming together over a glass-smooth lake as the male character attempts to convince his companion (unsuccessfully) of how they are all a part of the “world soul.” Swans often make an appearance in fairy tales, so this missed connections poem of courtly love and loss was a nice way to tie all the pieces together.
A Reply To A Queen
Missed Connections in Boston
It deftly unhorsed me.
A man who tilts at windmills, when on his errant way.
No token,sprig or summer flower favor
hangs from this estucheon plate on this day
I used to quest, to heal myself you see
a fisher king
a fool, who killed a swan. Out of jealous need.
My fairy maiden
is half sick of shadows,
The lady guards my shield no more.
So here i stand and yield not to the blows
No glory gained, none shall know my lore.
I gave all I have to give.
As champion of her empty castle,
the pierced heart and sieve.
