Do You Hear The Earth Breathe?

      Still jovial thoughts jostled against the shoreline as they sat in the fisherman's hut.

      "Have you ever heard the earth breathe?" Chopin asked.

      "Have you sir," Kate replied, "it is a jovial thought."

      "Ah, not so Kate. She sighs to me in music, in chords and vibrations, sighs upon the the autumn shore. It is not jovial to hear the earth breath. She seems deep in uffish thought.

      "But surely that is just the year turning to her chamber for sleep and refreshment" she said honestly. His thoughts were perplexing to her.

      "No. Look at the sea. The earth drags herself from her lover, never certain. One minute the sea caresses the shore, next he retreats and turns his back and she is oft bereft. Was there ever such in an inconstant love?"

      "But Sir, the succulent moon shines down and turns her glittering light upon both equally. Surely this is some compensation."

      "Ah, yes dear Kate," said Chopin,"but do you see the earth flirt with the moon? No. It is the sea who frolics with silver horses and dimpled treasures under the moons gaze. The earth, she is not jovial. She is tired, lumpen, full of- and beaten by- the cares of the planets. Deserted by the sea as the moon pulls on her puppet strings.  But the sea is teaming with playful thoughts, tickling the fish as they swim through his greens and blues, dancing through storms, brawling with the wind, free to roam at will. Honestly tell me again, now do you hear the earth breathe Kate?"

       Kate thought for a moment unwilling to leave Chopin in this melancholy state of mind.

      "No Sir, I do not. But I do see the stars in the heavens sparkle with longing, with sisterhood. They are shining their light daily upon the earth reminding her that she is not alone, for all the sea's inconstancy. They wink out their secret belonging and show their unity with the earth. So I will not have her sad or lonely Sir."

      Chopin gazed a moment in thought. He gazed again at the sea turning its back on the shore, at the pale daylight moon, the puppet master of earths caress and his mood lifted as he realised how outnumbered the moon was by comforting stars.