The language of Myths: A Dialogue

The Language of Myths

“All through the pelting rain I run,

 As it rained stones not shower”,

I said.

“Was it a dream”, he asked. “Of course a dream “, I said, “How could it be true?”

“Because reality, with you, is hardly away from a dream,” he said.

“Or a dream hardly different from reality,” I edited his words.

“Take off for a while those magnificent robes of words you wear,” he said.

“Why do they bother you?” I asked.

“You should be bothered, not I,” he said.

“Did you ever care to lift the veil?” I asked.

“Why should I? It was your choice to stay behind a veil”.

“That’s a clever argument”, I said.

“Oh yeah, clever!” He said.

“Illusions are beautiful so long they hide behind a veil”, said he.

“Oh dear, who do I hear? You or I?”

“There, didn’t I tell you; you need to see a psychiatrist for help.” said he.

‘”Who, you or I? But never mind, the psychiatrist can wait for a while. Let us talk about veils”, I said.

“Okay, but I am already half-listening now. Let’s wind up quickly,” he said.

“We are not here for eternity as if I am the prince listening to your endless tales of One Thousand Arabian Nights”, said he.

“You may or may not listen; I will go on singing like a Siren”, said I.

“Let me explode another myth”, said he.

“Sirens have no power over me. I live in reality.”

“I can hear you explode,” I said

“Don’t use metaphors,” said he. “It’s the myth that explodes not I,” he said.

“Okay; come on; let’s hear another of your dreams. That makes the dialogue simpler,” he said.

“I can hardly ever talk to you. I think we don’t speak the same language.” I said.

“So, need we re-invent language, so that we may talk?” He asked.

Silence..dumb, like struck by violence.

Is that the veil; is that a  dream, or is that the pelting rain of stones?

And we laugh, each hiding behind a veil which is no longer a veil; it’s a mask,

Solid and real, but a shield we need to hide the vulnerable self which we cannot look at in the face;

It’s our helmet now;

And helmets are needed to save us, not shield. The veils, the masks and the helmets—

They all have a use.

We go on exploring all possible uses, till we forget what the dream was and what the reality!