hild of the pure unclouded brow And dreaming eyes of wonder!
Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder,
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale.
The preface to Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and What Alice found There strikes this writer as being unbearably beautiful. It may be noted that I do not think of children as having 'pure unclouded' brows, 'dreaming eyes of wonder' or 'loving smiles'. Most children are mischievous, over-imaginative and supremely talkative. Nor am I of the opinion that fairy tale romances are the perfect endings.*
However, I do think these words are, as I said, unbearably beautiful. It makes me think of my parents and how much they have given me. I want to give them as much and more. It reminds me of my new-born niece and little cousins for whom I wish the best that this world has to offer. It reminds me of my friends and their hopes, which I hope will come to be. And it makes me sad when I realize that, with the steady and unstoppable flow of time, there will come a day when these shall no longer be. For death may be the leveler, but it is only a natural point in the stream of time. Surely, time is the ultimate winner and ultimate master.
The concept of 'Kaal', the personification of time and the ruler of the material world, as found in Indian philosophy says the same. For anyone interested in such things, Kaal is sometimes said to be married to 'Maya' or illusion. This is interpreted to mean that the flow of time gives rise to illusions. This writer understands this to mean that she should be prepared to accept change because soon enough, tomorrow will surely bring something different. And doesn't that make life more interesting?
The concept of 'Kaal', the personification of time and the ruler of the material world, as found in Indian philosophy says the same. For anyone interested in such things, Kaal is sometimes said to be married to 'Maya' or illusion. This is interpreted to mean that the flow of time gives rise to illusions. This writer understands this to mean that she should be prepared to accept change because soon enough, tomorrow will surely bring something different. And doesn't that make life more interesting?
* On that point, I direct anybody actually reading this to 'Just Ella', a 1999 novel by Margaret Pearson Haddix which picks up where Cinderella (or Aschenputtel in the book by the Brothers Grimm) left off. In this book, Ella finds Charming and life at the palace paradise but boring--if you think about it, paradise is boring--and runs away to find a much more fulfilling life. Its a little in the line of feminism and is definitely written for young girls, but not a bad read simply because the idea is interesting.
Please note that this does not mean I like drama in my life. I like it simple, straightforward and happy, but not boring.
Please note that this does not mean I like drama in my life. I like it simple, straightforward and happy, but not boring.
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