Prince: "I am very fond of sunsets. Come, let us go look at a sunset now."
Pilot: "One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!" And a little later you added: "You know - one loves the sunset, when one is so sad..."
"Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-four sunsets?
-----
He could not say anything anymore. His words were choked by sobbing.
The night had fallen. I had let my tools drop from my hands. Of what moment now was my hammer, my bolt, or thirst, or death? On one star, one planet, my planet, the Earth, there was a little prince to be comforted. I took him in my arms, and rocked him. I said to him:
"The flower that you love is not in danger. I will draw you a muzzle for your sheep. I will draw you a railing to put around your flower. I will ---"
I did not know what to say to him. I felt awkward and blundering. I did not know how I could reach him, where I could overtake him and go on hand in hand with him once more.
It is such a secret place, the land of tears.
(The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery)Labels: dark and twisty confessions |
I should read this book soon, again. This time, on one Sunday afternoon with the sun setting on the horizon.