[Critique Group 1] Leonard's comments on DeAnna's sub

[tuchyner5 at aol.com]

A wonderful wisdom tale. 



I didn’t anticipate the ending. 



His song wasn’t the sound of happiness though. 



The bird taught him what to do if he were abird. 



But he didn’t tell him what it would be to singas a kyote sings.



Kyote singing is really pretty. Erie.




 


DeAnna sub for May




 


Coyote Learns To Sing



 



               Spotted Pony Boy searched through the brush moving further and further from thepiece of bark he had propped against a boulder to use as his target. Grandfather Grey Elk had given him a strong small bow and seven beautifularrows.  Ah, there it was hiding among some sage. The last missing arrowhad lodged at least five feet from the target! 



               "I am no good at this!  I will never be a good hunter," hewailed.



               "Come here little warrior," called a gentle voice.  "Sit onthis warm stone and rest a bit and I will tell you a story," promisedGrandmother Spider. 



 



               One day, coyote was wandering to and fro as he is wont to do.  He heard a mostwonderful sound.  Quickly he ran down a hill and in a sheltered dip in theland he found a small bird building his nest. 



               "Oh, what is that lovely sound," he asked?



               "I was singing," answered Meadow Lark.



               "I want to do that," decided coyote.  "Teach me tosing," he demanded.



               Meadow Lark cocked his head in surprise.  "Well, when I am happy, Ijust open my beak and a song comes out," he faltered.



               Coyote thought to himself, "I can do that."



               So off he went to try out singing.  He climbed back up the hill and satdown.  He opened his mouth wide.  Nothing happened.  He becameannoyed.  He stomped back to where Meadow Lark was busily completing hisnest.  Coyote snatched the small bird up and growled.



               "You didn't teach me right, tell me how to sing.



               "Oh, you are getting me all wet!  Put me down and I will try toexplain," begged Meadow Lark.  "Um, I usually sing when I amhappy.  Try thinking of something that makes you happy, open your mouthand let the happiness flow out of you in sound," instructed meadow lark.



               Coyote thought, "Well why didn't he say that the first time.  I cando that!"  He marched off to the top of the hill.  He sat downand thought about chasing jack rabbits across the prairie.  He thought howgood they tasted when he caught them in his strong jaws.  He opened hismouth in a big coyote grin huffed out some air but still a song didn't comeout.



               Coyote was getting impatient now.  He made up his mind that he would learnthe secret of singing from that bird or know the reason why.  He stormedback down the hill.



               He snatched meadow lark from the edge of his nest and shook the poor littlebird.  He demanded, "Teach me to sing and be quick about it!"



               "Ouch!  Mind the feathers," cried the frightened bird. "Okay, Okay, you must think of something that makes you happy, in a placethat you love.  You must feel such joy in your heart that it feels as ifit will burst if you don't let it out.  Then you take a huge breath, openyour mouth and allow that joy to flow out into the world as a song," heexplained.



               Coyote hurried off to his hill top.  He sat down in the bright sun. He imagined his stomach full of good food.  He thought about a lovelylittle coyote girl curled cozily against his side.  He threw back hishead, drew in a great breath and opened his mouth.  Nothing happened. Now he was truly angry.  If a tiny bird could sing, surely someone as bigstrong and clever as he was could do it.  That bird was obviously keepinghis singing secret from him on purpose.  He would show him that making afool of coyote was a dangerous thing to do. 



               This time, meadow lark had flown up to gather some moss off a boulder to linehis nest.  He saw the angry coyote coming.  "Oh dear, he is justtoo stupid to learn!  I will put this small rock in my nest andhide," he thought to himself.



               Coyote reached the nest in a real fury.  He shouted at the stone sittingin the nest.  "Teach me to sing or you will be sorry!"  Butlittle rock said nothing.  For it is not in his nature to talk much.



               Coyote snatched up the little rock and shook it.  "Teach me tosing," he demanded.  Little rock said nothing.  He didn't knowhow to sing.



               "If you don't teach me to sing, I'll bite you," threatened the angrycoyote.  Of course little rock said nothing.



Coyote teeth did not frighten him!          Coyote bit down on him. He broke a tooth and it really hurt.  He threw back his head and cried,"Aaaaawoooo iiii iiii!" Coyote has been singing like that ever since.



               Spotted pony boy laughed.  Grandmother Spider said "Any new thingthat is worth learning takes time and much practice.  Only a foolishcoyote would think it could be mastered at once.  Don't give up so easilyon your shooting.  With enough practice, someday you will be a great hunter.   



 



 



DeAnna Quietwater Noriega



Cell: 573-544-3511



Email: dqnoriega at gmail.com



Author of Fifty Years of Walking withFriends



https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/



 



_______________________________________________
Group1 mailing list
Group1 at bluegrasspals.com
http://bluegrasspals.com/mailma



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://bluegrasspals.com/pipermail/group1/attachments/20210527/a6362049/attachment-0001.html>