Saturday, August 7, 2021

Motherhood - Maternidad

Motherhood

We were crossing Sherwood Forest when Marian, my wife, went into labor. We were on our way to Edwinstowe to join William I's army. The dark night made it impossible to tell how close we were to Edwinstowe.

Marian, in severe pain, leaned against the base of a tree. I, with the help of a torch, tried to help her give birth. After an interminable moment, something detached itself from her body. It was a kind of shiny oval stone. Stunned, I didn't know how to explain it to Marian. She stared at me and looked at what she hoped was a newborn. Her features transformed and she began to scream and cry bitterly. Then she lost her mind. She picked up the thing and caressed it, wrapped it in a blanket and kissed it.

Dawn surprised us exhausted. Marian had not slept. Next to her face rested that shiny stone. As if she were a baby, she sang and kissed it, moving her hand as if something invisible was caressing her. I decided we couldn't get to Edwinstowe so we stayed there. But not for long. During the next night, such was Marian's love for the stone, that the stone, in response to her songs began to glow with multicolored hues and an almost inaudible melody could be heard caressing the soul. Then Marian, after clasping the stone in her hands, died. Then, the stone darkened and began to shrink in size until it disappeared.

 

Maternidad

Cruzabamos el bosque de Sherwood cuando Marian, mi esposa, se puso de parto. Nos dirigíamos a Edwinstowe para unirme al ejército de Guillermo I. La noche cerrada no permitía saber lo próximos que estábamos de Edwinstowe.

Marian, con fuertes dolores, se reclinó en la base de un árbol. Yo, con la ayuda de una antorcha, trataba de ayudarle a dar a luz. Después de un instante interminable, algo se desprendió de su cuerpo. Se trataba de una especie de piedra ovalada y brillante. Atónito, no sabía cómo explicárselo a Marian. Ella me miró fijamente y dirigió la vista a lo que esperaba que fuera un recién nacido. Sus facciones se transformaron y empezó a gritar y a llorar amargamente. Entonces, perdió la razón. Cogió aquella cosa y la acarició, la envolvió con una mantita y la besó.

El alba nos sorprendió exhaustos. Marian no había dormido. Junto a su rostro descansaba aquella piedra brillante. Como si fuera un bebé, ella le cantaba y besaba, moviendo su mano como si algo invisible la acariciara. Decidí que no podíamos llegar a Edwinstowe así que nos quedamos allí. Pero no por mucho tiempo. Durante la noche siguiente, era tal el amor que Marian profesaba a la piedra, que ésta, en respuesta a sus canciones empezó a brillar con tonos multicolores y una casi inaudible melodía se escuchaba acariciando el alma. Luego, Marian, después de estrechar entre sus manos aquella piedra, murió. A continuación, la piedra se oscureció y empezó a reducir su tamaño hasta desaparecer.

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful, mysterious and deeply touching.

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  2. Dear Katy. Thank you so much. it's a pleasure to hear from you again. It is a wonderful surprise. I hope everything goes very well for you. My best wishes for you.

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    1. Dear Francisco, I'm back, all fine here...largely. In summer we are a but caught by our garden works, as weekend gardeners so I find less energy for the computer. But I will catch up with you soon. I wish you a safe and inspired summer, all the best to you and your loved ones. Reading your stories is always a pleasure to me, though I feel that the English version is not as true to your talent as your beautiful Spanish.

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    2. Dear Katy. As always, your words are full of wise. My English do is very poor, I am sorry. Your soul finds the best in both languages. Will you draw those wonderful pictures? Will you write those unique stories? I am waiting them to feed the soul.

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