A Tender Illustration with Pictures on the Measure and Meaning of Love – Marginalian
The two most dangerous myths we live with are the idea, given to us by the Romantics, that in true love two people meet all the needs and desires of each other, and the idea, sold to us by materialistic sellers and integrated into the basic myths of the modern world, that happiness is a matter of reaching the external objects of our desire that can give us enough inner peace.
But we are alive.
We live and find that our desires are wonders in the desert of our self-awareness, we find that in everything we find there is nothing to hold, nothing but light between us. We find that love is not found in great deeds and amazing displays of devotion, it is not proven by doing the impossible for someone, but it lives quietly in showing passion and persistence for more light.
French writer Nadine Brun-Cosme and artist Olivier Tallec invite that discovery with great generosity Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf That Won't Fall (public library) – a sequel to their lovable and unusual parable about loneliness, friendship, and how friendship changes us that remains one of my favorite books of all time.
At the top of the tree was a small leaf.
In the spring, this leaf was so green and tender that the Little Wolf wanted nothing more than to devour it.
“Big Wolf,” said Little Wolf. “Go get me that leaf. I just have to taste it.”
“Stop,” said the big wolf. “Eventually it will fall.
When summer comes, the leaf grows shiny and green, so brilliant that Little Wolf wants to use it as a mirror. Big Wolf keeps assuring him that he will fall if he waits.
When autumn comes to color the tree with its magical alchemy of photons and excesses, Little Wolf is seduced by the leaf, eager to press it on the cheek. Big Wolf again advises him to wait for it to fall.
But it doesn't happen.
As the skeleton tree climbs the snow-covered hill, a small leaf keeps moving in the spring, a symbol of the kingdom of longing.
One morning, the Big Wolf wakes up, stretches out, and, in that unsolicited manner in which those who love to show off to those they love, announces that he is going to climb a tree.
He just said that, for no reason at all.
Just seeing Little Wolf's eyes sparkle.
As the Big Wolf climbs the tree and climbs on the thin and thin snowy branches, the Little Wolf's joy is filled with fear.
But when the Big Wolf finally stretches across the thinnest branch and manages to touch the edge of the leaf with his fingers, the leaf crumbles at the touch, red and gold flakes falling on the Little Wolf in the sunset.
The little wolf looked up at this shower of soft stars.
As the pieces passed in front of his nose, Little Wolf caught the little one on his tongue, and felt its pleasure.
When someone passed in front of his eyes, he saw how bright it was.
When the piece slid down her cheek, she felt how gentle it was, and she shivered for a long time.
Then all the pieces flew very far away.
The Big Wolf looks up, still and smiling.
Back down, they sit together as night falls and Little Wolf whispers:
That was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.
This may be what love is – how dreams can crumble into a reality more beautiful than you could imagine, that in failing to meet another's need it is a soft victory for the one who tried, that these acts of kindness and care are ultimately the best thing we can give each other.
