There was a great carpet dwelling above the world. Inside it. Around it. It was conscious, yet not intelligent. Awake, but it did not think. One, a spectre of selves, everywhere and nowhere. No one knew how it worked, not even itself. It was pure observation. It knew, but did not calculate. It felt, but did not care. It was existence. Reality. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The old man sat by the window, looking out on the valley he’d lived in all his life. He knew everything about that valley. Every little rock, every old tree stump. He loved the valley. It was the best place on Earth for him.
He walked out on the porch. Watched the little lake. He knew the lake. He knew the kinds of fish swimming in it. He knew how to catch them. He knew which berries there was in the forest on the other side, which mushrooms he could eat and which he could not. He sat down on his old stool, as he had done so many times before.
He knew a lot. He knew how the flowers bloomed in springtime. How the hills exploded in colours in autumn. He knew how it felt to love and he knew the pain of hate. He knew the arouse of glory, the deep sorrow of loss. He knew a lot.
A cat came by. He knew the cat.
Hello, little cat, he said cheerfully. The cat came to him, stroking itself to his leg.
You’re a friendly little chap, aren’t you! Said the old man. The cat purred, enjoying the old man’s company.
He did not know if the cat was a he or a she, but knew it was not important for him to know. The cat was his friend, and friends were good to have.
He was old now. Very old. Life was coming to it’s end, and he wasn’t sad about it. He’d lived. He’d had a rich life, with sorrows and laughs. Memories. He wouldn’t have been without any of them. Even the painful ones.
Today he was looking out on the field in front of his house. Something dark was hanging over the grass. Over the trees. And he knew. He knew his time had come, he’d lived for a long time now. He knew there was nothing to fear. As death came, he closed his eyes and accepted.
A little frog opened it’s eyes in a swamp in Amazonas.
https://kavarastories.com/2017/05/31/knowledge-unconsumed/
https://yashmody.wordpress.com/2016/12/26/self-consciousness-vs-self-awareness/
Love the ending. Which is also a beginning.
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Exactly. Something ends, something else begins. That’s life;)
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Such a lovely way to exit this lifetime.
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It is, isn’t it. If we all just went like that… 🙂
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Awesome!
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Thank you!
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…Great story. Filled with hope and transformation!
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Thanks! I was too late for yours it seems…
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I’ll let you know when next one is up…ty! Keep producing those great, heart warming stories. I’d like to experience being a frog!! Then, of course, a lion, eagle…
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A frog’s life is short, George, don’t worry… 😉 Thank you!
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All life is short compared to the infinite Universe…but you know that…
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That’s an amazing continuation at the end of the story ! we never really disappear, do we? 🙂
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We do, but reality does not. And we’re part of reality, aren’t we? 😉 Thanks!
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Haha definitely 🙂
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Fantastic, especially the ending… or was it a beginning? thanks for sharing my friend. 🙂
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Thank you! Happy you liked it. 🙂
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I loved this story. Thank you.
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Thank you, that makes me happy. 🙂
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I am glad 🙂
Keep writing and I will keep reading.
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Thanks! I’m over at your place right now. Loving it!
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Oh really? Let me know what you think!
I just spew forth thoughts to exorcise my mind
Haven’t really thought about whether I am a writer yet but maybe I am starting to believe I could be
Thank you! 🙂
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You are, I have doubt about it;) Keep writing!
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Thank you AF
I appreciate your support
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This story… wow! I love your perspective on the universe’s consciousness and the circle of life. So beautiful! 🙂
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Thank you very, very much!
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You’re welcome. And you added another title to your name, pretty cool 🙂
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Thank you! It was already on my drawings, so… 😉
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Wow I’d never noticed before 🙂
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Love this… very interesting.
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Thank you very much! 🙂
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I’d kind of like coming back as something other than a frog, thank you very much.
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Who knows, might be fun 😀 Croak croak.
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Not unless I get to kiss a beautiful Princess.
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Not all people could accept death in such a cheerful manner. I loved the ending…a life was gone, a life just started… 🙂
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Thank you.
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A Hemingwaysque piece of excellent writing. Anand Bose from Kerala
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Thanks a lot! I’m flattered:)
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One window closes, and another swamp opens. Ah, the circle of life!
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On and on forever… Maybe;)
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The end is truly a beginning! And so it goes . . . well done.
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Thank you!
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Superbly written and thank you so much for the follow.
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Thank you!
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Wow, this is really thought-provoking! I like your writing. 🙂
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Thank you very much!
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Coming back to this & rereading this relatable & comfortable tale I relaxed some finally into the placid future I aspire to/ thanx, g.r.
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Thanks a lot! Great 🙂
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Philosophical and mesmerizing. I enjoyed this immensely. ~PR
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Thank you!
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Nice piece. It portrays death the way we should all view it; as a natural part of life. Sure, death comes in many different ways, some sadder and more unfortunate than others. But above all, I believe that death should be something we should discuss throughout our lives. The matter grounds us, humbles us and reminds us that we won’t be in this beautiful, sometimes painful, existence forever and so, like the old man, we must appreciate it to the fullest. Cheers!
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Thank you for these thoughtful words. I agree, death in itself is not really a bad thing, as long as it comes as painless as possible, and not too soon. Just an inevitable part of life. 🙂
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This is the way I hope I go, when it’s time. Not sure about coming back as a frog though…Beautiful illustration. The last sentence should be “its eyes,” not “it’s eyes…”
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Ah, it’s true. I probably forget that a lot. Thanks!
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And one day, we’ll wake up as stardust. Beautiful story! Wise and warm.
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We’re all stardust 😉 Thank you!
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I would like to hope we all have similar endings and maybe exist once again. The redemption of being able to know our mistakes in our next lifetime is a sweet thought. Smiles, Robin 🐦 🏵
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Apart from that apostrophe, I love the final line. (Sorry, but as a remedial writing teacher, misplaced punctuation stuff always gets me.) It’s bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter: the valley welcoming him to be a part of its cycle. Of course, it also begs the question: as the man has lived in this valley all his life, what was the man before he was born?
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Thanks! I’ll check out the error and change it, always good with some help 🙂 No one, not even him, knows what he was before the life as a man, and the frog knows what it needs to know to be a frog. The old man just knows there’s nothing to worry about 😉
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If I were him, I wouldn’t worry, either. 🙂
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The satisfaction and character of the old man, having lived such a peaceful and rich life, comes through strongly in this piece of interesting writing. If only we had the choice of a second life, frog or otherwise – although I would prefer being human again.
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Being human is quite interesting, isn’t it 🙂 A bird wouldn’t be too bad, though 😉 Thanks a lot, James!
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An interesting ending, and so life goes on!
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Thanks, Orwille! Who knows? 😉
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Reblogged this on misterkaki.
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Thank you very much!
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Lovely! And the comment thread too. I’m glad you pointed the way to this, or I’d have missed it.
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Thanks Chris! You might be interested in the “top post” widget at the bottom of the page 😉 By the way, today’s post was accidentally published with only the second half, and kind of lost its essence. It’s updated now.
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The cosmic consciousness tickles my pineal gland, good shit Aak. I can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this one too! Agh!
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