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Archive Number 1039 | ||
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Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 16:15:46 EST
Dear Jena, There is a story that comes to mind that I have mentioned before on Storytell when a similar question has arisen. A very powerful tale that speaks not only about grief, but working through it as well is Nadia the Willful. It is an original tale written by Sue Alexander and printed in Hey! Listen to This by Jim Trelease. Quick bones: An Arabian sheik loses his favorite son and is grief stricken. He is transformed from a kind, caring ruler to a fierce, terrifying one. He forbids anyone to speak his son's name. Only his strong willed daughter, Nadia, has the strength to defy him. She realizes that the more she talks about her brother and shares his life and memories, her grief is lessened. Through a series of events her father finds out and is enraged. She has the courage to confront him as he sits staring out at the desert sands where he last saw his son Hamed. She asks her father if he can hear Hamed's voice, see his face? "No" he cannot. She begins to speak and share stories from Hamed's life. The father breaks down in tears, he can now hear and see his son in his mind's eye. He is restored to the loving ruler he once was and Nadia's name is forever revered throughout the land as Nadia the Wise. Of course I am paraphrasing a great deal but you understand the powerful message I am sure. I believe someone has sent you the Irish blessing "Do not stand at my grave and weep..." It was my mother's favorite and I had it read at her funeral. It still gives me great solace when I am missing her the most. Someone also typed the lines "Life is a circle and love is immortal and death is only a horizon." The words are from a song by Carly Simon. I had the song played at my mother's wake as family and friends came up to pay their last respects. The words are comforting and very true. How kind of you to want to do something so thoughtful for your friend. You have my sincere sympathies. blessings, Karen Karen Chace Professional Storyteller Co-publisher, Working smARTS e-newsletter for children's artists Producer of Researching Stories on the Internet CD Arts Web Researcher 97 Chipaway Road East Freetown, MA 02717 (508) 763-8565 storybug@aol.com "Catch the Story Bug!" | ||