Near the little brook leading
into the hamlet with the green
somewhere on the windswept plains
the Volva Vigga walked daily
wondering why it is difficult
for people to agree -
how wars start - over land.
She had been observing a friendly feud
for a few years now - shaking
her auburn tresses she muttered
why are friendly folks no longer
friendly, jolly and neighborly.
It all started when a neighbor's
house - which has some old hovels
behind it, adjacent and attached to it.
These abodes no longer inhabited
and were hazardous and dangerous.
In the house there were an woman
who lived alone, her spouse were
gone most of the time to wars,
but he had promised that he would return
to live with her in that little hovel.
Behind the hut were ruins -
they leaned on their walls
and the town council in its wisdom
had decided that the waning walls
should be torn down and let light in.
A few others were on the same lane
but across the alley way the neighbors
nearsightedly eyed an opportunity
to get some of that land in front
of their property, albeit crossing
the little - narrow but ancient lane.
The little lady knew that
she could not stand for the pressure
alone - until her husband would come
so she elected to be evasive.
She who says less does not promise.
The town council held a meeting
many of the inhabitants came
but those with true access were asked
to say what they wanted.
The lady with her little house
said that she would like some land
but was willing to let the neighbor
across the lane get some part to walk
in front of her claim - no good
The neighbor on their other side
with volatility and evocatively
said - she wanted a part just across
from her house - actually her daughter's.
The neighbors hemmed and hawed and
finally decided to go further away
(about a walk of less than one minute)
to get that big lot of land they wanted.
Vigga Voelva mused that the little woman
had told her the next day -
the neighbor's lady of the house
yelled and said they were extremely
angry with her for not following their wishes
and they did not want to see her
- for a while. - The woman had
met the neighbor accidentally
- how could they not - and
he had averted her eyes - and did not
respond to her friendly hello.
War was brewing in the little village.
Vigga the Voelva - nodded -
it was going to take time before
that knot would be cut and maybe never.
Alas, the little woman said to her,
but what if it had been them
having direct access to the land,
would they even have considered me?
There is nothing you can do or say
that will make people feel better
and besides, the wondering Voelva
was warily adding to her comment.
There is also your long gone husband
to kindly consider, he would never have
given them any access either, would he?
The little woman quietly looked ahead
dreaming of another world with no wars.
She shook her white mane, No.
Vigga the Voelva patted the woman
on her arm, Give them time,
after all they are getting a big plot.
She gave the little woman a sunny smile,
In the end it shall be all right.
They said goodbye and the wise Voelva
moved slowly back to her woodlands
and her house beyond the brook
near Yggdrasil - muttering mostly
to herself and the fey of the land.
No there will not be peace ever
only when man is gone then mother earth
can start breathing freely again.
She went down to the brook, looked
at all the debris from the village -
sighing, she went further up the stream
where she found another source of water
that came directly from the earth.
Here she thanked the great mother
and took her flask filling it with
the pristine, crystal clear water.
She smiled as she raised her flask
to her lips - drinking the liquid.
Cold and beautifully satisfying
the water slid down her throat.
She felt ready to go on and talk
to her highborn sister Sophia
and after that she would write
to her dear daughter Gemma Sarah.
The world would go on - and at least
the tiny squabbles of the people
did not bother the Grand Gaia.
