As with any normal being, my life is not devoid of the amazing bond shared with that single special person which, more simply put, is commonly referred to as "love". But there the similarity to the average ends. For my current situation is very different to that of the average person. This is because of the many misconceptions surrounding the term "love"!
But before i delve into the deep and murky waters of explanation, let me (as is soon becoming second nature to me) explain my metaphor of choice. Well, as I'm sure you all know, the most common story the Dragon tells is that of the protector of the damsel in the tall tower. The reason my damsel lives in an ivory tower is that the "ivory tower" is our illustration of the unrealistic take on reality; something of what seems to be an impossibility, as it were. So the damsel is in the ivory tower because she did, in fact seem an impossibility- I would even have gone so far as to call her a myth before i met her!
So going back to the Dragons role in the story. The usual scenario is that the damsel is guarded by the poor creature, who is depicted as the monstrous beast, the final barrier necessarily overcome by the "Prince charming" , whose arrival the damsel longingly awaits. But never for a moment does anyone stop to think that maybe it is the Dragon who, in fact cares most for this damsel it so closely guards. And in repayment, what be its plight? A slit in its throat or a stab in the heart by the Prince who damsel is awaiting!! In one way, it wouldn't be wrong to say that under the circumstances, the Dragon could not hope for a better ending. For after the arrival of the Prince, there is nothing more for the Dragon; it has done its part, played its role to perfection, and has nothing to look forward to except the agony of unexpressed love, never to be returned in kind. Gladly, however, this is where the story of this Dragon is far cry from the average. For this Dragon has indeed found its damsel in the ivory tower, who amazingly is capable of understanding the reasons for its actions, and would gladly climb its thorny back to soar on the winds of time, away from all the so called "Princes" who only promise a life of misery after all the initial pomp and pageantry. This Dragon's damsel understands that it has only her best interests at heart, and appreciates it for what it is. This is why the story of this Dragon is swiftly taking a very different path, to a very different ending.
And all this, this Dragon will readily attribute to it's damsel. For it is this amazing lady who gives meaning to its life. It is her that is the wind the Dragon was looking for; the reason it soars so high. And so much more , that it would galdly die than even attempt to put down in words what she means to it.
On that note let me leave the promised dive into "murky waters" for another day. For to do so now would be to take away the emphasis on the actual reason for this post; who indeed deserves so much more than this measly attempt at an explanation. But let no mistake be made about just how much this Dragons damsel means to it!!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Birth of the Dragon..........
Unless I'm personally known to you, i assume the reason you stopped to read this is because of the unusual heading. Therefore i feel it important to explain the choice of "theme", as it were. It must be understood that it is not merely a senseless, childish obsession with Dragons. My use of the term 'merely' is because, on some level, it could be said to be so as well. However, in typical fashion, my adoption of this particular (arguably) mythical creature as a metaphor, I would say, is not entirely unfounded. Since to explain in detail my justification in its entirety would be cumbersome, to say the least, i pray you will settle for a minimal explanation. Let me start thus;
We have all heard about Dragons, in some manner or form, be it in a fairytale (most often) as the villain, as a character in a novel (be it inanimate or otherwise), or as part of traditional myth (especially in countries of the Asian region). Therefore it would be unnatural for one to disagree with such a statement. However, i would like to pose a simple question- WHAT is a Dragon? And here lies the rub. For I'm sure that though you might have just embarked on a lengthy mental explanation, would you be able to verify such a description? For a Dragon, unlike most other creatures we have come across, is mythical. Which is to say that a description, wherever it be from, has little to no chance of being accurate, as I think we all know what happens to anything, on it's journey through many lips (the longer the journey, the grater the effect!). Therefore, one could say that the best (and possibly the only) description would be to say that it is a mystery. However, i hope you did not mistake my statement to mean that i believe that a Dragon is NOT a being, on the basis that it's existence has not been proven. On the contrary! I would even venture so far as to say that to me, It is more real than most other beings. For, to me it symbolises much. Though the image of the Dragon may be distorted in most instances, one has to look no further than the Chinese culture to understand the beauty and respect it is associated with. The ancient Chinese even went so far as to believe that the reason the day ended was because the great Dragon swallows the Sun, each day at a particular time. This larger-than-life image symbolises the perception the people had of the creature that some cultures would consider to be "dreaded". Therefore in my highly biased opinion, the Dragon is a very real being.
Now to the reason i see a metaphorical illustration in the Dragon. The reason for the thoughts expressed thus far, is for the purposes of explaining what it means to me. To me, a Dragon is a being that is real, eventhough I cannot prove to you its existence. It gives me an insight into the manner in which perceptions can differ drastically, through the way various cultures view it. But at the end of the day, the benefit of understanding it can be enjoyed only by those who bother to understand it. Which is the same outlook I have on my life. I do not wish to influence the opinion people have of me. What is seen is what will be received. I will always remain who I am, regardless of what others see me as being. So i feel i am, in fact, looking through the eyes of a Dragon. Therefore it is only logical to assume, that my thoughts thus recorded may, under different circumstances (if such WERE to be made), have been recorded in a ledger of a Dragon.
We have all heard about Dragons, in some manner or form, be it in a fairytale (most often) as the villain, as a character in a novel (be it inanimate or otherwise), or as part of traditional myth (especially in countries of the Asian region). Therefore it would be unnatural for one to disagree with such a statement. However, i would like to pose a simple question- WHAT is a Dragon? And here lies the rub. For I'm sure that though you might have just embarked on a lengthy mental explanation, would you be able to verify such a description? For a Dragon, unlike most other creatures we have come across, is mythical. Which is to say that a description, wherever it be from, has little to no chance of being accurate, as I think we all know what happens to anything, on it's journey through many lips (the longer the journey, the grater the effect!). Therefore, one could say that the best (and possibly the only) description would be to say that it is a mystery. However, i hope you did not mistake my statement to mean that i believe that a Dragon is NOT a being, on the basis that it's existence has not been proven. On the contrary! I would even venture so far as to say that to me, It is more real than most other beings. For, to me it symbolises much. Though the image of the Dragon may be distorted in most instances, one has to look no further than the Chinese culture to understand the beauty and respect it is associated with. The ancient Chinese even went so far as to believe that the reason the day ended was because the great Dragon swallows the Sun, each day at a particular time. This larger-than-life image symbolises the perception the people had of the creature that some cultures would consider to be "dreaded". Therefore in my highly biased opinion, the Dragon is a very real being.
Now to the reason i see a metaphorical illustration in the Dragon. The reason for the thoughts expressed thus far, is for the purposes of explaining what it means to me. To me, a Dragon is a being that is real, eventhough I cannot prove to you its existence. It gives me an insight into the manner in which perceptions can differ drastically, through the way various cultures view it. But at the end of the day, the benefit of understanding it can be enjoyed only by those who bother to understand it. Which is the same outlook I have on my life. I do not wish to influence the opinion people have of me. What is seen is what will be received. I will always remain who I am, regardless of what others see me as being. So i feel i am, in fact, looking through the eyes of a Dragon. Therefore it is only logical to assume, that my thoughts thus recorded may, under different circumstances (if such WERE to be made), have been recorded in a ledger of a Dragon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)