LITTLE ONE Flashcards by CASTLE HARD

They all know I will come,
And yet still they always seem so surprised
to see me

Oh Christ, no-please- not now

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Hello little one, I am here

I can see that, and not to be rude, but now
is not a good time-you can’t-I can’t-
please. Please. He didn’t get tell me
everything-I need more time-

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Once I am at a gate I can not be sent away

Please your..your highness?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

It does not matter how you ask
For I am here, little one, you know the
stories, now how will you get to
the other side of me?

I …I don’t know. I don’t what to do. Oh
God, you block out the sun

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

A loud dry grumble of deep dis-approvement

I’m sorry-I’m sorry! I’ll-I’ll go around
you! That’s it! I’ll go around you.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Their stained boots lead them straight back
to their gate
And back in front of me

How… I walked for miles, I went so far…

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Do not think you can get to the other side
without facing me
Do not do me that disservice

I told you I couldn’t do this right now!
I’m not ready!

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

I hear them claw open draw, after draw,
after draw… until they find what they were
looking for

The sound of the slow stroke of metal on metal

LITTLE ONE Lets see how your hard face like this

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

LITTLE ONE Lets see how your hard face like this

The sound of the axe taking its first bite, and a mountain flinching in return

That is but a taste of what is to come
This ice axe is made from an alloy of the
finest Northern Steel
Sharp isn’t it? It was forged by my
grandfather

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

“So that it will make any stone yield,”
I remember it when he made it in his prime

Hmm, So you’re “old friends” I’m glad to
be the one reacquaint you
I promise I’ll have you under my foot in no
time

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Looks are deceiving, especially mine, and
especially when looking up,
Thus their ascent always starts quite well

Ha! You have clearly been bested before
Easy trusted handholds by three score!

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

As they are reminded that I am truly old
Older than the hills they crawled over by
sixfold

Fine, you knew it was coming. So if you
don’t mind

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

LITTLE ONE Fine, you knew it was coming. So if you
don’t mind

The sound of an ice axe biting stone

LITTLE ONE Upwards I go

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

LITTLE ONE Upwards I go

Time passes: The sound of cold thin wind whipping past. The ice axe still rhythmically biting

Not far now, just one more

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Not far now, just one more

Another bite of the axe

There….No. No!

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

A false summit. I would say I am sorry but
it is my nature

I saw the path forward. I planned it out-I
had you-I beat you!

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

I am not something you can think your
way over

But I did everything I was supposed to.
What more could I have possibly done? There is nothing else!
Oh…I see…I did everything I was supposed
and -it got me this far, and you don’t like
that do you?

But the air is thin here. Your fingers
they are becoming numb-very soon, You will
not be able to hold a strong grip

Don’t even try it. You will yield

I am no common stone. Even if you reach my
peak, and see over to the other side-

I will keep going, I have to… Just one hit
at a time, and another, and…

Sometimes it is months, even years, before
I see them stood at their
gate again

I thought you would’ve gone by now

Once I am at a gate, I can not be sent away

Yes you’ve said. But I’ve been thinking
what if I don’t want to play?
What then?

Nothing

Nothing?

I suppose you could go back inside your
small home-

I do have the kettle on

But when you wake up tomorrow, and open
your window, you will see me
still at your gate

So nothing “bad” would happen. You could
just stay over there.

I could. We could even become friends-in time. But a life in my shadow is no life at all. Look-what sunlight that does find your skin is silver- there is no warmth when it is cast off me. So please, try

Wait-really, why are you here? You owe me that much. Ready enough, not ready enough? I knew you would come, but he never told me why. And if I’m not even going to get stronger for having got to the other side of you-then what is the point in all of this?

You can tell me. Come on in. I can not bite.

Inside, I think I expected it to be pitch black, cold, but somehow it was illuminated, with a light source that pulsed from further down, further in.

My feet sank as I stepped forward, deeper and deeper.

My right hand reaches for the cave to steady myself as the ground shifts beneath my feet, I came to realised it to be thousands upon thousands of grains of diamond.

There are grooves traced deep into the cave, that steer my fingers around the corner of the tunnel’s turn, as it opens up, until I found my self in a cavern.

It had tall marked walls, and in the centre a garden of crystals.

Or rather a nursery almost. Have you ever seen a crystal grow before your very eyes? Because I did, in there. Or rather, I heard it. They sing.

And when I looked into their faceted faces, I knew their names: Kyanite, Serpentine, Labradorite, Tourmaline, Feldspar

I knew them all because he taught me them

And then, there he was- refracted back to me, several times over returned. And I saw his shade in each of their glorious hues.

But when I reached to touch him, a shard scoured my palm. My eyes looked away, saw fingers quickly becoming sticky and red .

And when I searched for him again, in their crystal faces, he was gone. Again. I stumbled back into those marked walls.

Walls with ruddy prints that I saw now they were of hundreds of hands, some big and small, broad, and dainty.

But one red hand looked like his. So I believed it was. Hoped it to be true. And pressed my now red hand next to his impression

I don’t know how long I was there, I don’t think I care. I don’t remember if I cried.

But I remember it hurt. I remember when I felt ready enough to stand, I was suddenly blinking in the light

I was here, Little One, you made it to the other side of me. I was the first, but I am never the last.

I was back at my little gate, and when I looked to the horizon. I saw Pennines, Himalayas, Alps, and Appalachia’s with Plateaus, coming for me.

But they’re Mountains, They’re going to take a while. For now, I have the sunshine, that harsh silver is gone, what remains is pure gold.